DLT 1,646 Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 Finally got my M92 PAP the right stain color. Question for you guys is what's the best sealant? I've got some gloss polyurethane, but not sure how it will handle heat. Other option is spray lacquer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cobra 76 two 2,677 Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 I like to use Waterlox Original. Another one I use is Zinsser Bull's Eye Shellac. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Long Shot 1,287 Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 Birchwood Casey Tru-oil. Good stuff Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spacehog 2,218 Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 A second vote for Zinnser Bull's eye shellac, but just remember it will become more orange with age. It is still a great product that produces a great finish. Another option that I use a lot is Minwax satin Spar Urethane. It is a little more difficult to apply. You have to wait longer between sanding and coats, but the final finish is beautiful, tough, durable, and chemical resistant. It is designed for outdoor use and taking the elements. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sim_Player 1,939 Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 (edited) Edited August 2, 2014 by Sim_Player Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sdustin 578 Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 I got a used Bulgarian lower handguard I think it's birch my greasey sweating hands made the look cool imo. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
G O B 3,516 Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 I have 2 different stock finishes that work well. 1, Minwax water based satin urethane, DURABLE and does not melt in sweaty hands, cleans up easy and can be touched up invisibly. 2. BLO and parafin wax 50/50. Apply hot mixture to a preheated stock, Urethane can be used over a water stain. BLO/wax can be tinted with oil stain. Both look good over natural wood. Careful when staining birch, it may absorb color unevenly. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DLT 1,646 Posted August 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 Here's a pic of the current state of things. This is 4 coats of MinWax sedona red stain. Applied over two days. Debating whether or not to use the fast drying polyurethane (clear gloss) or not. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Maxwelhse 1,285 Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 Personally... I wouldn't hit it with a top coat. Rub it down with some lemon oil from time to time and it will be good to go. Cheap and easy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DLT 1,646 Posted August 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 My fear with the polyurethane or any other top coat is that it will yellow with heat and time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Maxwelhse 1,285 Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 ^^^Agreed... That's why I suggested lemon oil. Oiled wood holds up great (especially since you've got all that stain in the pores) and if it gets a little boofed, oil again. It also smells nice and will keep mosquitoes a little further away. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ruffian72 548 Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 Minwax, like the Cherry 235. Gun builder, now in his 80's, hand builds all his own stocks, got me into using Minwax. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mancat 2,368 Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 (edited) Just FYI shellac will very likely bubble up under heat unless you let it fully dry for weeks. Mine is just finished with BLO, about 15 coats rubbed in over the course of a week. Unfortunately BLO will leech out a lot of oil-based stains, and it's possible that the stain has probably already "filled up" a lot of the open wood grain and will prevent it from accepting oil, but YMMV. You may be fine. I have had BLO basically pull Minwax stain right out of the wood before.. Not good. I have also mixed a few drops of lemon oil in with the BLO for good results. A few woodworkers have recommended this. Most of the clear poly coatings will NOT yellow, but do scratch fairly easily. The nice thing about oil finishes is that if you scratch or ding it, rub more in. If you're going to do a spray poly, lightly buff between coats with steel wool. Instead of 2-3 coats you may need to do 5-6 but you will get a more uniform coating with minimal orange peel or cloudy look. Edited August 3, 2014 by mancat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
G O B 3,516 Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 For a BLO finish over stain, use a water or alcohol stain. You can add oil stain to BLO, and that works but is messy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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