Caring for walnut stock

[tonyc]

Until a few days ago I hadn't owned an AA walnut stock and I don't know what finish is applied by AA. Just picked up an as-new TX200HC. The stock is in original matt finish which I want to preserve. I'm not wanting a substantially darker or more glossy appearance. So, rather than apply a branded stock oil (which I believe are usually linseed and/or tung oil with laquer and solvent) I thought I might ask here first.

Any suggestions or recommendations welcome, or advice on what not to use!

[silverstag]

Ballistol oil for me. It can be used on the wood and the metal work

[Blackbaronfish]

Ballistol oil for me. It can be used on the wood and the metal work

Ballistol is great stuff but has a darkening effect

BBF

[silverstag]

Ballistol oil for me. It can be used on the wood and the metal work

Ballistol is great stuff but has a darkening effect

BBF

I've not noticed any darkening on my guns but I'll take your word that it does mate

[tonyc]

Thanks guys.
I guess any oil is likely to have a darkening effect. My concerns come from finishing furniture where previously applied sealers can have nasty effects on the take up of oil. I might try contacting AA to see if they can tell me what is used (presuming the stocks come from Minelli fully finished).

[TenMetrePeter]

Thanks guys.
I guess any oil is likely to have a darkening effect. My concerns come from finishing furniture where previously applied sealers can have nasty effects on the take up of oil. I might try contacting AA to see if they can tell me what is used (presuming the stocks come from Minelli fully finished).

Air Arms are not Holland & Holland and I doubt if even the walnut stocks are hand oil finished. More likely acrylic varnish. In which case you are just looking at any old non oxidising oil like Ballistol aka soft liquid paraffin which will just stay on the surface as a protective cleaner rather than a wood feed.
I used Danish on my acrylic stock and it was a disarster darlng. flaked off.

[tonyc]

I used Danish on my acrylic stock and it was a disarster darlng. flaked off.

Just what I feared.
I was thinking perhaps pure tung oil, which is oxidising but unlike Danish has no lacquer component. Risky on acrylic varnish. The problem with acrylics is they are often not complete barriers, so the oils get through and behind in some places but not others.

[Blackbaronfish]

Ballistol oil for me. It can be used on the wood and the metal work

Ballistol is great stuff but has a darkening effect

BBF

I've not noticed any darkening on my guns but I'll take your word that it does mate

If you haven’t noticed that it goes darker then you haven’t it the wood. You may find that it has a sealer.

BBF

[silverstag]

Ballistol is great stuff but has a darkening effect

BBF

I've not noticed any darkening on my guns but I'll take your word that it does mate

If you haven’t noticed that it goes darker then you haven’t it the wood. You may find that it has a sealer.

BBF

I didn't think it was sealed, it seems to be absorbed by the wood, but I could be wrong

[Popgun]

I use Red Kite Walnut oil & Nath`s stock wax, Nath is an AGF member.
The finish is superb, i have just done my "new to me" S410f whilst the metalwork was away with Paul Chell ( AGF member) for re-blacking.
I also applied numerous applications of B L O to all the sinkings / end grain inside the stock

The rifle now looks better than new, i will post some pix later in the week.