when am i done truoiling my stock?
 

I have different reports on the number of coats. Some say 20 some say 5. How many coats of truoil do y'all usually use.

As many as it takes to get the job done. That simple. Keep working until it looks the way you want.

But is it just the case of getting it darker and darker or thicker and thicker?

I have 10 coats on it so far and it looks good, I just don't know if it is done or not. It is a little glossy for me, but I believe stock conditioner will take care of that and make it more silky looking from what I have read and seen online.

Yes, the stock conditioner will knock it down nicely. Use it lightly and stay away from edges when rubbing it.

The goal in the finish is getting the amount of grain fill that you desire.

When have a stock finished to my satisfaction I always let it set in the sunlight for a week or more. The UV rays will harden the finish and male the finish more durable. If I don't do that I let the gun sit in the gun closet ti cure for a month or more before using it in the field.

I usually put 7-8 coats on letting it dry thoroughly, then I knock the gloss off with 0000 steel wool do this very lightly, and you will take the "shine" off, then use a soft cotton cloth to buff by hand to the gloss you want, Gary

Well, I ended up stopping at 10 coats. I then took some 0000 steel wool to it to take the shine off and remove one run that appeared out of now where on the last coat. Gonna let it dry a week and then hit it with the stock conditioner like the instructions say.

I was comparing it to the DH forearm and the grain fill looks good. Just need to shine it up now with the conditioner I guess.

BTW, it amazes me the weight difference that having the metal removed from the forearm makes vs. having it in.

You may find that the conditioner will not really shine it up much.

What I may recommend you try is with your steel wooled stock as it is, apply another coat of Tru Oil. Then after not giving it much time to sit, wipe it off with a cloth. This will remove the excess and leave a thin coat behind. When it dries, it should leave a nice satin sheen that is usually pretty nice looking.

Bill if you want a nice semi-gloss "glow" you might want to try one final wide down with Formby's semi-gloss Tung oil after the Tru Oil has cured. I have been using a couple coats of Formby's Tung Oil on the last few stocks I have done and am really pleased with the results. Tru Oil and the Tung oil are compatible so there is no problem with the finish sloughing off with use.

I prefer using a wiping cloth made of a synthetic to avoid problems with lint.