I shaved down and shaped my pistol grips for the BFR and can't decide what to use as a finish on them. They are walnut and I would like to darken them some. Any recomendations? Tounge oil, linseed oil, tru oil?

I wouldn't use linseed mate...I'd use either Tung Oil or Tru Oil myself. Linseed is too oily and will weep out of the wood in the sun.

Not too sure how Tung Oil will stand up to the weather...I've only ever seen it used for indoor furniture. There are plenty of outdoor furniture/decking type oils that have a polyurethane base...and they look pretty good too.

For something small like a set of grips, I think that a good quality stock oil from your local gunshop would be the best bet.

Cheers, Vince

Vince is right. Linseed oil will remain slightly oily to the touch and I doubt if you want that thing sliding around in your paws! Tru Oil is pretty tough and has the added bonus (like any oil finish) of being easy to touch-up as needed. Whatever you use, try a little on the back side of the grips to see if it will darken the wood enough for you. Oil finishes darken most walnut quite a bit.

Tung oil. Well HAND rubbed in while watching TV...I used it on my 60 year old M94 stocks about 20 years ago and its still looking nice and weathers quite well...I used tung oil on the T/C Hawken .50 stock too. That was 25 years ago and that stock still looks like it was done yesterday. Must be done by hand (no rag) and it will take a bit of time. So turn on the TV...

Most simple oil finishes will do well with weather but no so well with gun oil. That is why you see older guns with black stains all around the metal. A handgun grip is very bad to pick up oil from cleaning and the hands of the owner.

Today most of the best stock makers use Pro Custom Oil by Brownell's. It is a combination of tung oil and polyurathane that is designed to penetrate deep into the wood to seal it from the weather and gun oil stains. It can be applied to almost any finish you care to execute, oil, satin, or glass like high gloss. Once dried it is imprevious to solvents and oil and if done to look like an oil finish, looks just like an old linseed or tung oil execution.

For a handgun grip, apply at least three coats to the entire wood, inside and out. Allowing each coat to totally dry. The grip will darken and be well protected. If you have a question about the process, go to the articles section and look for the In the Wood Stock Finish article.
Best,
Ed

wiersy111 wrote:

Tounge oil,

Stop licking your guns you huntingnut!

Maybe he likes the taste of walnut and sweat...

Well- ya know them BFR owners....

A special breed.

Might help keep the barrel cool too.

I get a tickel when I think of it.... *lap-lap-lap*

Aw, now guys, we can not hold the group to a spelling curve. If we did, I would be at the bottom of the bell.
Best,
Ed

Copy that and ditto....I just got a really funny visual from it.

A little bow paint !!! Maybe dark brown this time !!!

I have done Tru oil finishes before, I hand rubbed about 25 coats on my 30-06. If I go that way I'll have to use a stain to darken them. The Tru oil finish's I have done and seen aren't quite dark enough.I'm going to research the Brownell's finish and the hand rubbed Tung oil.

Sorry chambered no paint.

There is no amount of licking that will keep that barrel cool.

Mostly need to protest it because of the drool... as soon as I pick it up my tongue falls out of my mouth.

It's not the walnut or sweat but the smell of gun powder that winds my clock!!!! The smell of gun powder if the reason I became am M1A1 tanker!

+1 for the Brownell's stuff as per Swamfox. One recommendation:before applying any finish, seal the wood with a good filler/sealer. This is an essential step before apply the finish and will render the wood impervious to moisture while smoothing the surface for the finish. Nothing elaborate is needed. I've used Birchwood Casey's filler and it does a great job.

Regardless, a good finish is never, IME, a one step process. Once sealed, numerous coats are in order for the best and most durable finish. Between coats, I use 000 steel wool to reduce the finish and complete the sealing process. Then, using Brownell's, I apply up to 15 coats, reducing the finish every fifth coat. You otta see the results! And, it stands up to weather and hand oils wonderfully for years of service.

Great tips, but what is IME???? I have caught it a few times around here, I looked it up in my English to redneck dictionary but wasn't there. lol

IME.....In My Estimation maybe.

Cheers, Vince