[ArtS]

Last night, I started cleaning the parts of an 1884 lifter I recently purchased. I have a large cleaner with a 24" tank. I filled it with hot water, put in a scoop of Oxyclean, set it for 30 minutes and 175 Deg F, 44 mHz with a cavitation degasser and started it. About halfway through, I decided to try the stocks too. They were dark and oxidized, worn some, dented in numerous places and the buttstock head was oil soaked.

I placed them in the tank, put a rack over them to hold them under and let the cycle finish.

The first attached photo is of the forearm. Notice the thick finish, the 5 or more dents and compressions and the filled checkering which was like a rock. The second photo shows the same forend after coming out of the cleaner and a wipedown with a wad of paper towels. The buttstock came out the same, with even the headstock deoiled. The wood could be rubbed lightly with 400 grit and finished.