[solinvictus]

Before (on the right obviously ):

After- two views:

I used Citristrip with 0000 steel wool to remove the stain and shellac combo that the Reds were so fond of. After stripping, I wiped all the wood with an alcohol-soaked rag, then proceeded to use Miniwax Polyurethane finish; two coats applied with a sponge brush.

I also used the Citristrip and steel wool to remove the crappy paint from the bolt and bolt carrier.

 

[NHCraigT]

Nice work,

Looks a 100% Nicer, including the bolt.

________________________________________________
Poop is a weapon…. monkeys use it….. aim for the eyes

 

[trixie]

that looks horrible! its all blotchy and uneven, do it over!

 

[shibbershabber]

If you use a stain before clear coat it will even up the blotches. It doesnt have to be much and remember that it never turns out like how it looks on the can so go a little darker than you really want. rub a few coats in with an old sock or something, then hit it with some 220 and then do a few good coats of the poly. It wont look much different than it does now, but it will hide the blotches.

 

[yelowrain53]

nevermind the furniture.....as long as its mechanically sound.......id say you could hold the zombies off for a while!!

 

[JWJ78]

I got to agree = you need to redo.

 

[solinvictus]

Yeah, it's splotchy, but that's my final answer because the purpose was functional rather than aesthetic. The shellac was cracking and flaking off of the rifle and it needed a redo. Thanks for the feedback, though.

 

[Brother Buck]

Yeah, it's splotchy,

Consider it camo and call it good.

 

[WISasquatch]

its a soviet bloc weapon, dosen't need to be pretty. Personally the way it looks now I might consider dyeing it black.

 

[InIt2Live]

I gotta give you a big :thumb: I like the more rustic look when it is splotchy like that. I also prefer the light wood like that over the red stain look. I say she looks great now!

 

[trixie]

paint it olive drab green or flat black, thats function!!!!

 

[NEWGUY556]

Minwax makes a product called "Prestain Conditioner" it is used primarily for softwoods like pine or alder. Softwoods tend to absorb stain unevenly which causes the "Sploches"
All you do is rub it on with a rag a let it soak in before appling stain.
I would also recommend using an oil based stain, with a second coat of clear finish like deft or spar varnish instead of the one coat poly urethane/stain products.
Solinvictus- You improved your SKS for sure. I have a Mosin that looks like it was used to paddle across the Volga, and then for clubbing fascists because the poor commie who carried it wasn't one of the guys issued bullets. I may try to refinish it. I will post pics if I ever get around to doing it.

 

[zazale]

Yeah, it's splotchy, but that's my final answer because the purpose was functional rather than aesthetic. The shellac was cracking and flaking off of the rifle and it needed a redo. Thanks for the feedback, though.

I say Good Job. Ya it looks splotchy, but it adds character. You now own an SKS's that looks like she could say "I've seen thing". You have my vote on individuality.

 

[joes]

Consider it camo and call it good.

I'm with ya brother Buck

 

[nopenotme]

I don't see anything wrong with it, nice job.

 

[FredLee]

Its that wierd wood the Russians used. M91s and m44 have it too.Thats why the Ruskys used redish stain in with the shellac.