Stock Sealer

[1972RedNeck]

Picked up a rifle with nice looking wood stock. But the way the grain is, it feels like it's trying to rip the side of my face off with a day's growth of stubble. Fresh shaved or a 3 day beard and it doesn't bother.

Any suggestions for good product to seal up the wood grain?

[GunnyMack]

50:50 mix of mineral spirits and truoil. Dip your finger in the mix and work it into the grain like an oil rubbed finish.
The goal is to fill the grain, you will know when it's filled when wet sanding with 400 grit wet/dry sand paper using your 50:50 mix as lubricant and you no longer see 'facets ' reflecting light as you turn the stock under a light.( unfilled grain)This process is cutting back. Sand with the grain in a small area and wipe against the grain to help fill the grain. Once the grain is filled a final coat of your choice of finish will work. It is a labor intensive process.

[marlinman93]

I've used Wipe On Poly for gun stock finishing for about 30 years now. It works fantastic and leaves a nice smooth satin finish. The gloss version will leave a glossier finish, but I wet sand and rub it with rottenstone to knock down the gloss if needed.
Any finish you apply needs to be wet sanded to remove the grain that's raised when coats are applied. But usually not wet sanded until you've got at least 4-5 coats of finish applied first. Then you can lightly wet sand further coats using the same finish as a wetter to sand. Wipe off the finish across the grain to help fill pores, and get a nicer finish sooner.

[Old No7]

If you don't like the high-gloss finish of TruOil but want the same durable finish, use their new low-sheen/satin finish version called "Genuine Oil". I've used it on several stocks and am really pleased. So far, I've only ever found it for sale on ebay; not in gun shops.

Old No7

[marlinman93]

I always go with a gloss finish formula as it's easy to knock down the gloss. But if you go with a satin finish and it turns out to not be the sheen you want there's not much you can do to bring it up. Some wet sanding with 600 grit, or rubbing with rottenstone powder will always knock down a finish that's too glossy without hurting it.