Refurbing wood grips....

[Mikej]

I stumbled on a set of S&W N frame wood grips, for $10.00! Pretty good shape too, the checkering is very sharp.. There's just one little chunk of wood out on the bottom of one side. The lacquer is a little spotty so I'd like to remove that and give them some kind of oil or wax finish rather than the shiny clear finish. So, not having any experience in wood finishing what would be the recommended procedure? Sand paper grit, do's, don'ts?

Thanks in advance

I realize I could have gone on line and found myriad info, but things have been a little slow on the the boards so.....

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[Bigbaddude]

Use wood stripper and don't use sand paper on the checkering. That should get you going have fun.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Yea, don't use sandpaper.. especially on/around the checkering. use lacquer thinner and a toothbrush on the checkering and a small rag and the thinner on the rest.
I'd think tung oil would be good to follow up but it will certainly darken it.. on further thought.. don't use tung oil. probably a touch of light natural wax

 

[jbett98]

I like the citrus based paint/varnish remover. Love the smell and it cleans up easily.
I use Tru-Oil by Birchwood Casey for the finish.

 

[joken]

What jbett98 said and this. Thin some Tru-Oil about 50-50 with mineral spirits and slobber it all over the grips until they won't absorb any more. Wipe it all off good and make sure the checkering doesn't have any residual finish. You can now rub the straight finish into the grips, but not into the checkering. When you think you are done, you might want one more coat on the checkering, but you don't want it shiney. Don't put wax in the checkering, it's hard to get it out and can look like crap

 

[Mikej]

Good, good. Just looking for something natural, and don't want to darken the wood if I can help it.

When I look at a fine S&W handgun, with factory wood grips, well, it turns me on.....Sorta'
Oohhh!

 

[jim97701]

Good, good. Just looking for something natural, and don't want to darken the wood if I can help it.

When I look at a fine S&W handgun, with factory wood grips, well, it turns me on.....Sorta'
Oohhh!

So you get wood for wood, LOL