Steaming Dents - Page 2

John Bastiani · 02-25-2021, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cameron Thraen

A tip I picked up over on the Doublegun DIY forum. For some dents use a few drops of alcohol. Put it on the dent, let it soak in a few seconds and then apply the heating element with the cover cloth. Alcohol will work deeper into the wood and may expand the cell structure better than stream alone. Works on deeper more stubborn dents. If this does not work then you can fill the dent by dropping in your finish in multiple layers. Filling a dent is much better than sanding the wood.

Will alcohol hurt the original finish? Also- If I mess up the finish- What product can I use to blend it back in with the original finish?

Dean Romig · 02-25-2021, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig Budgeon

John, when I want to confine my dent raising to a single area I use a relatively new wash cloth, light in color, and 4 layers thick. I saturate the cloth to the point that it is only dripping intermittently when held open and vertically. If your wash cloth begins to turn color, your probably to hot; start over. Heat guns are alot hotter than hair dryers so don't let the wash cloth dry out. Experiment with a scrap piece of wood first.

TimberLuxe

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John Bastiani · 02-26-2021, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig Budgeon

John, when I want to confine my dent raising to a single area I use a relatively new wash cloth, light in color, and 4 layers thick. I saturate the cloth to the point that it is only dripping intermittently when held open and vertically. If your wash cloth begins to turn color, your probably to hot; start over. Heat guns are alot hotter than hair dryers so don't let the wash cloth dry out. Experiment with a scrap piece of wood first.

Used your method last night with distilled water and a hair dryer on a small dent and it brought out most of the dent until the hair dryer kicked off from getting to hot. I will work on the small dent some more today. The finish has held up so far but Im still alittle worried when it comes to the larger dent. Both of these dents are close to the top of the comb and the dents stick out more. Wish they were on the bottom and I wouldn't even mess with it. Also found the Timberluxe finish that Dean was talking about at Coles in Florida for $13.99 if I need it.

Craig Budgeon · 02-26-2021, 12:40 PM

I would never use alcohol on a gun whose finish I want to preserve since alcohol is a solvent for shellac. If you are refinishing the wood, GO FOR IT.

Robert Brooks · 02-26-2021, 12:48 PM

i use Q -tip and saturate dent and use cig lighter and set on fire. Bobby

Mike of the Mountain · 02-26-2021, 01:35 PM

Quoted from John Bastiani- "and a hair dryer on a small dent and it brought out most of the dent until the hair dryer kicked off from getting to hot."

Been a looooong time since I used a hair dryer or had one cut off due to being too hot!!

Mike of the Mountain · 02-26-2021, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Brooks

i use Q -tip and saturate dent and use cig lighter and set on fire. Bobby

Flame on Bobby!!

John Bastiani · 02-28-2021, 01:37 PM

Well: I got most of the small dent out without hurting the finish. I also went over the dent with boiled linseed oil several times and it seemed to help cover and fill in what didn't completely come out. I also tried to get out the larger dent using the same method but it hasn't worked. Im afraid that a hot iron is the only way to steam the larger dent out and I know the heat will probably hurt the finish. I just hope that the timberluxe works and will blend in if I decide to go that route. Might just let it go for now and practice on a old stock that I have and see how it turns out.

Cameron Thraen · 02-28-2021, 08:21 PM

By the way, what gun are you working on? I looked back and noticed that you did not include this in your original post. Do you know the finish is oil, oil/varnish or shellac?

Cory Rams · 03-13-2021, 02:49 PM

I either treat it as an all or nothing project. I got brave enough to pull my dent out. I then sanded it down to 400 grit and refinished it with boiled Lind seed oil. Not perfect by any means but looks a million times better IMO. I wanted to leave a few old scars in the wood to keeps its aged look.

Before...

After about a dozen coats of BLO...

Below photo is after about 2 coats of BLO along with a 32 rimfire R Murdock. Both looked like they were ready for the scrap barrel before I started with both of them.

The 10 gauge receiver was rusted solid and the hammers and pins frozen in place before I went to town on it.