Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Murphy
I would keep sucking oil from the stock until no more comes out, before I went to step two. What do the experts say about that?
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I am the current expert on removing oil from stocks, and I have the cancelled checks to prove it. To wit:
I finally received the buttstock and action of my HE Fox back after it required THREE incredibly complex de-oiling and extraction procedures, each of which took weeks to completion. The exasperation of the stockmaker was near complete when he finally identified the oil he was trying to remove as none other than
Sperm whale oil! Perfectly natural that it would be that given the vintage of the gun (1923). It was a common lubricant back then, and of course, in the true spirit of the American way, more was better!
The extraction solvents used ranged from denatured alcohol to acetone to MEK to aromatic C9 hydrocarbon liquids. The original intended repair of the stock to correct a very old pre-splintering glue job that of course did not hold due to the oil soak had to be completely redone after the extensive de-oiling series.
Only last weekend, yet another oil-soak related saga will result in my having to have a new ejector forend made for another beautiful graded smallbore. Those of you who have been there can feel my pain in the wallet!
I don't have any experience in using Super Glue in sealing/reinforcing stocks and/or forends, but I can tell you unequivocally the VERY first thing I would do with these 100+ year old guns is to have the actions glass bedded by someone who knows what they are doing. It will save lots of headaches later on from cracking, splitting, chipping and splintering of the wood.
This simple but detailed process involves using accurately mixed epoxy, suitable release agents, due diligence in application and curing, and above all, attention to detail. But first you have to get ALL of that oil out!