doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Stock finishing oils

Some years ago myself & Diggory offered a number of recipes for stock finishing oils . Time and technology moves on and I was wondering what the most popular oils were?
Obviously sprayed on lacquer is becoming popular (but not with me).
Do you have a favourite recipe, brand or concoction?
I have to say that my favourite commercially available brand was Warthog Purdey , but that is no longer available.
What are you genuine refurbishers using ?

I am anything but a genuine refurbisher, but I am liking "Velvit" oil. Sold in nice small cans by Brownells. Out of Wisconsin I think. A genuine refurbisher on this site recommended it to me.

Timberluxe. The new #2 formula is thinner, which I like.

http://www.timberluxe.com/

JR

When I was living and working in England 15 years ago, I discovered the stock finishing oils know as "Trade Secret". (Of course you can purchase them there in UK, but only one business in USA sells them to my knowledge) I continue to use them until this day. If you want to see how they look on best best guns, take a look at Westley Richards website https://www.theexplora.com/ as WR's uses Trade Secret oils to finish their gunstocks. By-the-way, Westley Richards is building guns and rifles in Birmingham, England that are the equal to anything Purdey's is building and maybe even better.

Is the "Trade Secret" oil available in the USA the CCL name sold by DGJ?

SRH

bushveld, who sells Trade secret in the US?

I really like alkanet oil for coloring and I've messed with the different slacum recipes and they're nice oils, but not extremely waterproof.

Many won't admit it but True Oil can give you a great finish if you put the effort into it.

Brian Board's Timberluxe is a great product.

This site ships internationally...

https://www.alanrhone-store.com/advanced...amp;x=0&y=0

But they cannot ship oils outside the UK.

Can't ship outside UK

No

Gunny;

Woodcock Hill. But my quick look at/through their terrible website software does not show it on the list. A phone call would be prudent.

We'll try eBay?

https://m.ebay.com/itm/Trade-Secret-Alkanet-Oil-Hunting-Shooting-Cleaning-Enhancer/232777967254?hash=item3632a5e696:g:50MAAOSwblZZMCQT

I think damascus nailed it in his post # 505376 in this recent thread om stock finishes from the DIY Gunsmithing forum:

https://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=505359&page=1

Specialty finishes such as Timberluxe work well, but $12.95 for 1/2 oz. or $29.95 for 2 oz. is just nuts. Rest assured there is a lot of profit and nothing magical in those tiny bottles. At least the Trade Secret Oils have a slightly more reasonable per ounce cost, but still rather pricey when you consider what damascus wrote about even modest volume production of his own "secret recipes". Personally, I'd avoid the economy version containing linseed oil, especially without addition of a dryer. There are dozens of wood finishes suitable for walnut gunstocks, but the final selection comes down to what you are seeking for a final appearance, and exactly how the gun will be used. Application technique has a great deal to do with final appearance too.

Then there is the important consideration of which finish is appropriate if you are attempting to duplicate an original finish. For many vintage doubles, that may be nothing more than correct application of good old spar varnish, perhaps applied over an alkanet stain. But few people here would ever be able to distinguish the difference between a carefully home-brewed or commercial alkanet stain, and some easily purchased and reasonably priced Solarluxe. And nothing screams REFINISHED on a vintage double like a glossy bowling pin synthetic finish or perfectly filled pores. A final consideration is that if you put 12 different wood finish samples on the same walnut board as a test piece, you will see at least 9 or 10 different appearances. Big difference too, when the same finish is applied very thinned to penetrate the wood surface, or applied thicker on the surface. It's always a good idea to try the finish you are considering on a scrap of the same wood to see if you get what you are looking for.

It's also made for more humid climates

I emailed Woodcock Hill and they have it. They are off to England next week and will bring back more. I think it is called TS 95 finish. According to the owner they use it and so do major English gunmakers. Here is their info:

Woodcock Hill Inc.
Thomas Bland & Sons Gunmakers Ltd.

Phone: 570-864-3242
Fax: 570-864-3232

E-Mail: bland@epix.net
Web Site: www.woodcockhill.com

I found the TS95 listed at the very bottom of the accessories page.

I'm getting ready to try some finish out of the German trade.

Builder,

Is it just the stock oil or the grain filler too?

Both and the polish


http://www.woodcockhill.com/Accessories.htm

Thanks Steve

happy to help.

I see the red oil is offered in the UK but not here. I make my own so no problem for me but I am interested in trying the other two products.

Same here

Have used the Purdey Warthog kit and lately CCL products and been happy with both

Steve;

When you use the Rapid Oil, the first coat will take maybe overnight to dry or partially dry; coats thereafter will dry quicker until towards the end of the stock finish cycle they will dry in a few hours. Do not let the coats of Rapid Oil over dry as it is a arm and elbow tiring experience to rub away the dried to long residue so that you can apply the TS 95. I always use the TS 95 drier oil and I do it by wiping dry the previous coat of the stock oil and with a few drops on my fingers coat the stock overall with the TS 95 and let it dry then polish with a soft cloth. It is possible to get two Rapid Oil/ TS 95 drier oil cycles in a 8-10 hour day, but do not push it to do that. For the very best finish I sometimes have taken 3 or more weeks to finish a stock. After you finish several stocks with Trade Secret, you will ask yourself why did I not know about this stuff earlier. In applying the Rapid Oil, thinner is better, sometimes I use only a drop or two per side of the stock and forepart.

Learning how much time to allow for the coats of Rapid Oil to dry so that you can rub the residue away is the main task and learning experience in using Trade Secret. I have found that letting the Rapid Oil dry until you begin to have difficulty rubbing the residue away works best for me. Things will be a bit different for you there in Colorado with low humidity.

I have used the Trade Secret Alkanet oil, but I like to make my own as I think their Alkanet oil is too thick.

Large containers of the Trade Secret Rapid Oil and TS 95 are available in the UK, and in the past I have had friends buy it for me when they were on business trips in UK and bring it back on the airplane. That may be an issue today.

Trade Secret oils are made by Mike Smart in the UK. He bought the formula from another gunsmith who developed them.