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Howsabout some thoughts on what's good as a finish for gun grips. A friend of mine uses a 50/50 mixture of Tru Oil and Mineral spirits; and applies 0000 steel wool in between coats. I'm guessing that the type of finish would depend heavily on the type of wood used, but I'm thinking about walnut, maybe mesquite, curly maple....???
Thanks, John

Most good grip makers use Tru-oil,,, uncut. I do.

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Yep, I do too.

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Two good recommendations from guys who know what they're doing... thanks. p.s. does Tru Oil go bad? I have a spray-can of the stuff that must be 10+ years old.....

Simplest and cheapest (and most easily acquired?) is Minwax Rub-On Poly (satin or gloss), available at Home Cheapo and Lowe's, etc. Extremely durable (verified by independent means) and incredibly easy to apply. Plus, it cures in about a day (much quicker than boiled linseed oil, which is what Tru-oil is), and doesn't smell once dry. I used it for more than 10 years in my furniture-making business, and NEVER a complaint.

That sounds like it might be worth a try just because I never heard or thought of it. I'm just experimenting and learning how to make grips (big scrap pile of some nice wood). Thanks WOODSY....

I’ve used Watco Danish Oil on S&W grips that I have refinished

Thanks Mark.... I've used Watco too.... on some furniture...
J

Watco danish oil is good stuff use it on wood turnings, also on grips! Then follow up with
a few coats of tru oil, gives them more durability! ps

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Tru-Oil, which is mostly boiled linseed oil, has MUCH LESS durability than the Minwax stuff, or, for that matter, any other polyurethane-based rub-on finish.

Was up at Lowes in Danbury and picked-up some of that Minwax Rub On Poly.... will give it a try next time I get to practice my grip making....

After the first 25 years finishing gunstocks with about every commercial and many proprietary recipes.....



...I spent the last 15 years using Waterlox Original Sealer and Finish, a resin-modified tung oil blend.

https://www.waterlox.com/products-item/ ... ler-finish

It works for $3000 shotgun stocks...



as well as $200 handgun stocks ...



They sell it for floors, I use it for furniture ...

WOW...... THEM'S BE FABULOUS WOOD. Thanks for the tip......
J.

I tried some old tru-oil and it stayed tacky so I broke down and bought a new bottle and only put about 4 coats with a "0000" steel wool rubdown between each coat. This is what I got (gunfighter/thin style for my hands):


Thanks again for all the great ideas, gonna try a few of them as I learn this skill....
J

Tru-Oil, uncut, #00000 steel wool between coats, as many coats as it takes. Your results look very much like what I get.

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