how to refresh wood grips

[buckshot]

I have an older Blackhawk that the wood grips seem to be drying out. They just look and feel dry and show slight shrinkage. I don't want to refinish the grips I would just like to refresh them again. Is there anything that I can apply to moisten the grips and make them like new again.

 

[Jeff Hoover]

Ballistol. Great stuff. GREAT on wood, plastic, metal, leather . I use it to clean my guns. Non toxic. Germans invented it around 1906.

 

[Shadow]

Buckshot .............. +1 Ballistol. Jeff just about covered it. I would use the aerosol can of Ballistol, spraying the grips and the entire gun, including all interior mechanisms (except the slide rails on a semi) and rubbing it in with your fingers. Don't wipe off excess on grips allowing to penetrate over a few days (wipe excess off metal). Repeat application on grips 1 week later, this time removing any excess oil. Go to www.ballistol.com for more info and to order on line. After 2-3 months, after allowing the oil to penetrate the wood and become lubricated, I'd apply Renaissance Wax to maintain the grips thereafter. An excellent product, not only to preserve and restore wood, bone, stag, ivory, etc. but also helps preserve and protect metal and leather. Go to www.restorersupplies.com for more info and to purchase.

This may be a little more info than you were looking for, in any case, you can't go wrong with either product. If you decide to give these products a try, let us know what you think.

Shadow

 

[DGNY]

With grips off gun, I like equal parts of paint thinner and boiled linseed oil, rubbed in thin coats well into the wood. Usually for me, one or two coats will do it. The idea is not to refinish [hence no sanding or steel-wooling - except to clean, maybe], but to refresh the finish.

I have had some Ruger SA grips that looked as though they had other than an oil finish, but never have needed to touch those.

Like Ballistol on metal, but never used it on wood [despite label], so YMMV.

Regards,

Dyson

 

[pulaski]

+2 on the ballistol . Sounds like the grips are dried out (lacking moisture).
The ballistol will give them new life without ruining anything .
JM.02
Steve

 

[buckshot]

Thanks guys! I have heard of Ballistol for the metal parts, but never for the wood. I have always wanted to give the stuff a try, looks like now I will have to get some for sure.

 

[Pal Val]

+1 to the thinned linseed oil. It will revive the wood without making it oily. It's an old standard that works well. I have treated 50 yr old gun stocks with it and made them look like new. All it takes is rubbing in thin layers.

 

[Shadow]

Buckshot .......... there's really no need to remove the grip panels, regardless of the material, when lubricating/restoring with Ballistol. Particularly when you have grips custom fit to the grip frame. Whether factory or custom grips, leave them attached. Also with the aerosol can you can squirt some of the oil along the edge of the grip panels where they meet the frame which will allow the Ballistol to penetrate onto the back of the grips panels, and not be concerned about an adverse effect on the metal.

Shadow

 

[schloss]

I know you don't want to refinish, but it sounds like that's what they need. Do a few coats of the boiled linseed oil to put life into the grips, and then coat them with Arm-R Seal from General Finishes. Or you can use a number of other products. Arm-R Seal is just really, really easy to work with. Apply multiple coats with a nylon stocking, sanding very lightly between coats.

My reasoning: I build furniture, so I've done way too much research into finishes. That aside, oils dive into the wood, which is what makes it look so good. More coats of oil generally makes nicer looking wood products. I've used tung oil for a few projects, and it works awesome, but takes a long, long time to dry. Because it penetrates, it gives life to the wood, but doesn't offer a layer of protection on the surface, where it is most needed. So add some protection there. Arm-R Seal is very easy to work with and very tough. Another option would be to hit it with a spar urethane.

I'll stop ranting now. Oil will definitely bring life back to the grips, but I'd definitely consider a little extra protection on them.

 

[resident]

The Ballistol MSDS does not download. It gives error msgs. Anyone read the MSDS?

 

[Freedom]

I like Ballistol...but I can't help but laugh at all it will supposadly do.. Reminds me of 1800's Tonic or an infomercial. "You could even cut a tin can with it, but you wouldn't want to"...LOL And the stuff stinks Terrible!.. you would never get near a deer again (or a lady) if you spray that cr@p all over your gun and let it soak into your grip panels. :lol:

For my woodwork, Tung Oil is the way to go.

 

[Don Lovel]

Marvel Mystery Oil, I have been using it for about 40 years for cleaning and lubricating, and noticed that it really does a nice job on grips. Plus it smells pretty good.

 

[M. HALL]

One trick that I was told to use on the shrinking is to put the grips in a humidor for a few days and then proceed with some of the suggestions above.

Getting the wood to fit the frame first is most important.

This is from a guy with NO money for new grips on anything right now.

Take care,

Matt

 

[eric conrad]

resident, google -ballistol msds- first thing that poped up is a pdf for it.
Ballistol,Kano,Rig and ed's red take care of most everything
Eric

 

[Anonymous]

Nobody is considering KEEPING grips in good shape. I use Birchwood-Casey's stock wax on wood handgun grips, and my 10/22 walnut stock. Seems to keep them pretty. A couple of times a year is enough.

 

[RedlegM109A1]

Ballistol. Great stuff. GREAT on wood, plastic, metal, leather . I use it to clean my guns. Non toxic. Germans invented it around 1906.

Great info. Thanks! I want to keep my beautiful Badger grips looking good.