Can cheap wood be improved? Some time ago I acquired a little-used 22 LR Marlin Model 99. Except for a couple of slight/minor scratches, the stock, slab sawn with reasonable grain, is in excellent condition but is characterless with very open pores, some of which look quite deep and show as dark lines along the grain.
I’m hoping that a London finish with alkanet would put some color in the wood and enhance its appearance. I’ll probably use a wet-sand process, starting with a thinned down oil & urethane mix, using the slurry to fill the pores. I’ve oil-finished a few shotgun stocks already so I understand the general process and what is involved. However, those jobs were on high-grade walnut and not cheapo wood. (I’ve also got SDH’s books and obtained equal measures of pleasure and knowledge from them.)
Can cheap wood be improved? Is this a feasible project or am I wasting my time? Comments/ideas/suggestions welcomed.
Thanks,
Kerryman
Other details on the gun:
Some Internet research suggests that it is a 99C or possibly a 99DL from 1963/4. The Monte Carlo stock is uncheckered, has a semi pistol grip (no cap) and the black Marlin buttplate has a thin white spacer. The stock also has a rear swivel hole that has been filled with a black & white bulls-eye insert, same as the white spacer. No sign of a swivel or holes on the barrel. It has an 18-shot brass tube magazine under a 22inch Auto-Micro-Groove Barrel. The barrel is stamped with the Eibar proof house mark along with the letter E in a shield. It has a gold trigger with a button safety built into the rear part of the trigger guard. The top of the action is grooved for a scope (a Weaver V22 is fitted, over a notch sight).
