The Rattler
New member
I was looking for a project and bought a 1937 16 gauge Winchester Model 12 shotgun. The wood furniture was quite beat up, and I am refinishing it.
I stripped the buttstock, including the butt end that is covered by the butt plate. I’ve also stripped the exterior of the forestock. I decided to strip the interior of the forestock for the sake of uniformity and to give it protection from moisture. I am having a heck of a time, however, stripping the interior of the forestock.
The impediment is the small size of the opening. I have refinished 2 12 gauge pump shotguns, and while it took longer to do so, I eventually got the interiors of the forends sufficiently stripped to apply new finish. I recall there being larger openings in those 12 gauges than in this 16 gauge. I’ve read that Model 12s are not simply 12 gauges with a 16 gauge chambers. The materials are custom sized for 16 gauges. Hence, the smaller opening for my gun.
To strip, I use Citristrip and brush it off when it’s ready with an Industial Strength scrub pad, gradually working down to a Medium scrub pad, followed by steaming. The problem here is that I can’t scrub the interior of the foreend using a scrub pad and my finger for pressure. The opening isn’t big enough to get my finger inside far enough. Instead, I’ve used the small end of a nylon gun cleaning brush with a handle. I’m not getting enough pressure on the scrub pad.
I don’t know what Finish was originally used on the forestock interior, but it is black, maybe even a paint. Whatever was used it is different from the finish on the exterior. The same black finish was used on the butt end, but at that location there was nothing obstructing my hand from applying pressure to the scrub pad. The butt end was more difficult to strip than the finish on the exposed part of the wood, but I got enough off to be comfortable applying new finish to it. That isn’t the case for the interior of the forend.
I have the same problem on the other end of the buttstock that is inserted into the receiver. It has the same black finish, but I’m afraid of applying enough pressure to remove it for fear of damage that could prevent a proper fit of the stock back into the receiver.
I will very much appreciate any ideas about what I should do.
Thanks.
I stripped the buttstock, including the butt end that is covered by the butt plate. I’ve also stripped the exterior of the forestock. I decided to strip the interior of the forestock for the sake of uniformity and to give it protection from moisture. I am having a heck of a time, however, stripping the interior of the forestock.
The impediment is the small size of the opening. I have refinished 2 12 gauge pump shotguns, and while it took longer to do so, I eventually got the interiors of the forends sufficiently stripped to apply new finish. I recall there being larger openings in those 12 gauges than in this 16 gauge. I’ve read that Model 12s are not simply 12 gauges with a 16 gauge chambers. The materials are custom sized for 16 gauges. Hence, the smaller opening for my gun.
To strip, I use Citristrip and brush it off when it’s ready with an Industial Strength scrub pad, gradually working down to a Medium scrub pad, followed by steaming. The problem here is that I can’t scrub the interior of the foreend using a scrub pad and my finger for pressure. The opening isn’t big enough to get my finger inside far enough. Instead, I’ve used the small end of a nylon gun cleaning brush with a handle. I’m not getting enough pressure on the scrub pad.
I don’t know what Finish was originally used on the forestock interior, but it is black, maybe even a paint. Whatever was used it is different from the finish on the exterior. The same black finish was used on the butt end, but at that location there was nothing obstructing my hand from applying pressure to the scrub pad. The butt end was more difficult to strip than the finish on the exposed part of the wood, but I got enough off to be comfortable applying new finish to it. That isn’t the case for the interior of the forend.
I have the same problem on the other end of the buttstock that is inserted into the receiver. It has the same black finish, but I’m afraid of applying enough pressure to remove it for fear of damage that could prevent a proper fit of the stock back into the receiver.
I will very much appreciate any ideas about what I should do.
Thanks.
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