Refinishing a Browning stock

[bronko22000]

Have any of you guys refinished a Browning stock? I believemy Micro Hunter hasa polyurethane type finish on it. It really took a beating on my last elk hunt. When this finish scratches it really looks worse than it is.
I was wondering if that spray furniture stripper would remove this finish?

[Nick10Ring]

I've refinished grips on Browning handguns. It seems to be the toughest finish to get off. Brownells carries a stripper specifically for Browning and other tough finishes.

Nick10Ring
Struthers,Ohio

[Hurricanespg]

The best way I have found to remove the Browning finish is to scrape it off with shards of glass.

[stalkingbear]

Get "certistrip" from Brownells. It removes ALL types of finish including epoxy and eurethane. For the new finish, check out "Acra-coat" also sold by Brownells. It's epoxy based, and while requiring 3 days for each coat to cure, is outstanding once done.

[bronko22000]

Before I bought the Certistrip from Brownells, I did a search and go some K3 stripper for expoy at Walmart. It softened up the finish in the browning stock. Enough that I could scrap it off with a plastic scrapper (I actually used a piece of vinyl siding - which I could shape for the different contours of the stock). I then applied a second coat and used a brass brush to scrub the remaining finish out from the pores in the wood. After final drying and some final sanding and steel wool, I finished with 4 coats of Tru Oil. When the Tru Oil was completely dry, I applied a light coat of satin polyurethane.
I am really pleased with the way it came out. I even like it better than the original finish.

[Hurricanespg]

Do you have pictures?
How long did you let the stripper set before you started scraping?
Thanks.

[bronko22000]

Hurricane - I followed the directions on the can. 15 minutes was the dwell time. That finish on the Brownings is tough stuff to remove. Even when I thought I had it all removed and going over the entire stock, I could see small remants of the finish on that I scraped off with a knife.
I figured someone may want to see some pics so I will get some later today.

[Pawildman]

ORIGINAL: bronko22000

Before I bought the Certistrip from Brownells, I did a search and go some K3 stripper for expoy at Walmart. It softened up the finish in the browning stock. Enough that I could scrap it off with a plastic scrapper (I actually used a piece of vinyl siding - which I could shape for the different contours of the stock). I then applied a second coat and used a brass brush to scrub the remaining finish out from the pores in the wood. After final drying and some final sanding and steel wool, I finished with 4 coats of Tru Oil. When the Tru Oil was completely dry, I applied a light coat of satin polyurethane.
I am really pleased with the way it came out. I even like it better than the original finish.

bronko.....You're right about the KS 3 stripper. Good stuff. Should have told you about it earlier. Sorry. I've been using it for some time now, and it really does a lot better job than the others, for the most part.
In recards to your finishing method, you did just the opposite of what I normally do.... I usually fill and build with the poly and then on a dull, lightly steel wooled final poly coat, I apply several coats of hand-rubbed Tru-Oil. It lets you touch up any future light scratches easily, but I'm sure your method will work as long as the Tru-Oil was totally dry before your final poly finish.
Will be anxious to see how it turned out for you. I'm just getting started on a Model 7 stock. Need to freshen up the checkering in a spot and put a light satin sheen on it.
Glad you're happy with how it turned out.......

[bronko22000]

You asked for pics of the stock. Here is one, followed by 2 others. Sorry I don't know how to add multiple pics.

[bronko22000]

Pic 2 of 3