Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil?

S

Satanic Toaster

New member
So I am attempting my first stock refinish and I am having a bit of trouble. As stupid as I feel for asking this, What is the easiest way to clean Tru-Oil finish off of your hands? I got a little on my hands through the rag i was using and I can't seem to get it to wash off. Please be gentle, I feel like enough of an idiot right now already. :(
 
I use laq thinner to remove the Tru-Oil, followed by soap/water to remove any traces of the thinner.

BTW - If I can make a suggestion: Use a bare fingertip instead of a rag, and you'll most likely have less "trouble" and a better result.

I apply one dollop at a time to a small area, rubbing it in/around to an area the size of a dollar bill until it's almost dry & the fingertip "squeaks" as it's rubbed before applying a new dollop to an adjacent area, etc, until the stock has one coat completed & let dry overnite.

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Removing TruOil from hands

Automotive waterless hand cleaner works very well for all gunstock finishes.
 
waterless orange automotive hand cleaner. Remember that mineral spirits or god forbid carburetor or brake parts cleaner will be absorbed by your skin and won't do your liver any good. Too many of us have forgotten this. My brother in law is dying of MDS syndrome ( a blood disorder) that is attributable to too much exposure to benzene compounds when he was a mechanic. This includes gasoline by the way. Wear good quality gloves when working with these chemicals,PLEASE! There are too few of us left now.
 
BTW - If I can make a suggestion: Use a bare fingertip instead of a rag, and you'll most likely have less "trouble" and a better result.
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I use the two finger method:Works for me and wash off with automotive
type hand cleaner.
 
Acetone or automotive hand cleaner followed by soap to remove smell. Either method works well for me. My workbench is permanently stocked with TruOil, acetone, and hand cleaner.
 
Acetone or automotive hand cleaner followed by soap to remove smell. Either method works well for me. My workbench is permanently stocked with TruOil, acetone, and hand cleaner.
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As someone stated early be careful of using chemicals,personally having worked in a chemical lab at one time I would not use acetone on hands over a period of time.
 
Quote: "As someone stated early be careful of using chemicals,personally having worked in a chemical lab at one time I would not use acetone on hands over a period of time. "

Well, I certainly wouldn't take a bath in acetone or slather it all over my hands every day, but then I don't apply gun finish every day either. When used lightly on two finger tips after applying a coat of TruOil and washing with hand soap afterwards, I have not observed any problems. Have been using it since 1964 for this purpose. Sometimes I am amused at the excessive concern over "chemicals". Isn't everything composed of chemical elements, including our bodies and nature's products? And too much of anything, even water, can be dangerous to your health.
 
All good suggestions to removing from hands. I just used soap and water(hot).

As to application, throw away the rag as suggested. You just waste most of the TO in the rag. Dump a little on and 'push' it around w/ fingers/palm. If the stock has sam grain holes showing yot thae cpat can be somewhat heavier.
I like to buff of between coats w/ steel wool. Make sure all remnents of SO are removed, maybe with clean old tshirt and then tack rag, prior to next dose. I suspect you have figured out you will need multipe coats/doses.

I even buffed off the last coat as I prefer the matte finish. After you do a couple buffs bet coats you will make up your own mind as to preference.

You will be very please at the final product and will know when you are 'done' since it it looks some better after each coat.
 
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