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Post by kilroysbrother on Jan 28, 2014 16:39:11 GMT -5
I apologize because i'm sure there is a better place to post this but hey i'm a newbie to the thread.
So how should I darken my Denix M1's stock? I had been planning on waiting till spring to sand it down and use wood stain. But now I heard you can use black shoe polish. What do you recommend?
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shiftysgarand
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Post by shiftysgarand on Jan 28, 2014 17:26:16 GMT -5
Put some lindseed oil on it, then let it sit. That combined with exposure should darken it up. And be sure to beat the applesauce out of the metal parts and the stock to give it that nice used look.
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2nd Bat
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Post by 2nd Bat on Jan 28, 2014 21:11:38 GMT -5
With the availability of airsoft M1s its a pitty you have a non functional Denix replica M1 but it is what it is. Aside from their typically way too new unissued appearance the Denix replicas actually look pretty good. The key thing to change for a convincing field appearance is change the metal finishes. Throughout the Garand a wide assortment of metals and hardness existed and once exposed to the elemnts and use they took on dramatically different shades often in very predictable ways. The gas assembly faded to a medium grey while the locking lug at the muzzle turned almost silver. The barrel remained quite dark and the butt plates quickly faded and got scuffed up and lost their dark finish. Wear areas along the sites would be abraded which can be simulated with sandpaper on the metal. The charging handle would likewise show wear. This artificial aging along with some nick in the stock would add greatly to the rifles authenticity.
A leather sling is a great touch as well.
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Post by kilroysbrother on Jan 28, 2014 21:16:48 GMT -5
Thanks guys. I believe I was un clear in my original post. I already have the metal beat to death. What I was asking was how should I give the stock a nice walnut finish?
PS. The stock I've also beat up.
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shiftysgarand
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Post by shiftysgarand on Jan 29, 2014 7:19:39 GMT -5
Lindseed oil and time should work.
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Post by kilroysbrother on Jan 29, 2014 13:25:40 GMT -5
Ok thanks
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2nd Bat
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Post by 2nd Bat on Jan 29, 2014 13:51:17 GMT -5
It really depends what kind of wood the Denix stock and hand guards are made of. Linseed oil on ASH will not replica the look of Dark Walnut no matter how many coats or how long you expose it to the elements. I once used a Denix M1 Garand replica and married it to a CYMA M14 and felt that Denix did a pretty good job replicating a correct looking finish on their furniture. I darkened it a bit with some black shoe polish which naturally filled in some of the delibrately created dips and gouges and created a field used look. The oils of the hand naturally darkens the stock around the hand grip and lower portion of the stock below the heat shield handguard. Once I had the look I wanted I applied a dull coat overspray to the entire gun.
incidently marrying the Denix replica with airsoft guts was a three year long project and not a project I would recommend. Expensive, extremely labor intense and quite delicate through the stock neck. It took three years mostly because I got frustrated throughout and gave up on it numerous times. Other projects during that time were far more gratifying. Denix make very good looking non guns at affordable prices but I like plinking too much to have much use for them.
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Post by kilroysbrother on Jan 29, 2014 17:24:20 GMT -5
Thanks 2nd Bat. I've seen someone use shoe polish and it looked really good.
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2nd Bat
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Post by 2nd Bat on Feb 5, 2014 1:52:26 GMT -5
Shoe polish actually works pretty well surprisingly. Your post reminded me of that technique and just for yucks and giggles I tried it on one of my cheap M1 carbines. It originally had a black stock which I sanded down to a dull light grey. I wiped it down and applied a coating of brown shoe polish followed by a streaked application of black shoe polish and when done it looked very very good. I will be curious to see how it holds up.
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