about 1/8" deep. Clue in the diamond shaped patch with epoxy glue. After drying, sand the patch until it
is even with the surface of the stock. There are several types of fillers that can be used to patch a stock,
which are.
STEAMING OUT A DENT
A soft piece of flannel cloth also can be used to remove a dent by the steam method. The warming
metal can be an electric soldering iron, or you can make a suitable substitute. One way is to put a
handle on a 12" piece of 1/2" copper tubing. Drive the tubing up into a common handle, bend it slightly,
and hammer the expected end until flat. In removing the dent, heat the electric soldering iron or metal
rod until only slightly hot. The metal should be about as hot as a clothes iron, hot enough to iron clothes,
but not so hot it will scorch them. The amount you warm the metal is extremely important, because you
will scorch the wood of your stock if you get it too hot. You then wet the cotton flannel and lay it directly
over the dent. Then touch the heated metal to the blotter or cloth at the point where the wood is dented.
The water will be turned to steam, which will penetrate the bent fibers of wood and will cause them to
swell up. As they swell, they will return to their original shape, and the dent will be gone. If you can't
remove it altogether the first time, repeat the process two or more times until the bent wood fibers are
level with the rest of the wood. If the wood fibers are broken, they will not return to their original position,
or if they do, they will look and feel rough because a clear abrasion remains. If this is the case, use the
above method to patch it.
Make certain that every trace of excess putty is sanded off the surface, for traces of putty not essential
will mar the surface not affected by the dents. Incidentally, this water putt, which has a light cream color
when mixed with water, can be changed in shade by adding dry powdered colors to the mixture. These
colors are available in many shades and can be gotten from your local paint dealer.
REFINISHING WITH LACQUER
Refinishing with lacquer is usually more difficult than varnish refinishing. Many inexpensive gun stocks
are finished with sprayed on lacquer, which does not penetrate the wood and will chip and flake off in
large chunks, leaving bare wood underneath.
Therefore, unless the lacquer needs only a little retouching, the total finish must be removed before the
new one is applied. The steps in lacquer refinishing are.
- Remove old finish with lacquer remover. Brush on, let soak, scrape off with a knife, wipe dry. 2. Sand
entire wood surface, ending with #320 or #400 grit paper.
TYPES OF WOOD LACQUERS
The large variety of lacquers available makes it possible to perform practically any type of lacquer
finishing. A description of each follows: