Painting over Tru-Oil

[Handsome Rob]

I'm in the finishing stages of a Richardsons Micro-fit laminated stock for my Marlin 882.

Problem is, it looks like steamrolled crap with the tru-oil finish. Because of the end-grain (such as it is) of the laminations, the damn stuff will NOT apply evenly. It's laying on the surface of the of the plys & soaking right into the ends of the plys (if you see what I mean)

I've applied 4 coats now & I've about had it. I'm sick to the hind-teeth with Tru Oil. Everything I've ever used it on has turned into a nightmare.

The beautiful Royal Camo laminate looks like sh*t now. It's sickening, but I'm at a point where unless I spend another week sanding it (screw THAT) I'm never going to rescue it.

So, I was wanting to know if anyone has tried painting over it?

P.S. Unless you're a full time, accredited, college & apprentice trained cabinet or gunstock maker, don't ever, ever, EVER buy a '96%' finished stock from Richardsons. 96% my arse. More like 6% at best.

As you can probably tell, I'm NOT a happy camper tonight. :)

[Guest GunTroll]

Bummer guy. Take a breath. Four coats ain't crap. Might be the application method your using. I could tell you how to get it to work better for you if you like. PM me if you want. Don't paint it. Maybe on a Ramline but not a laminate that you bought for the color/character.

[VERO1]

Try stripping the oil off of it and then gettin a can of stain sealer from Lowes etc. It seals the wood grain before staining so softer parts don't absorb more finish than harder parts of the grain. I uused it on some stair treads with excellent results.

[Rightwinger]

How are you applying it? Tru Oil is not a brush on paint. I use my finger. Thin, thin, thin coats and dry. Super fine steel wool between sessions to "sand" and bring up the luster.

Here's what you get when you do that

Don't go ripping on my super valuable Savage now that you can see the serial number! LOL

Edited August 11, 2010 by Rightwinger

[Handsome Rob]

Thanks for the help guys. I was applying it with a finger, just enough to cover my fingertip & rubbing it in as far as it would go. The problem was that on the endgrain, as soon as my finger touched the wood, it was dry.

Sorry to say, but I succumbed to laziness & painted over it. It still doesn't look very nice, but hell, it's only a varminting gun & it's probably going to get scratched & knocked around anyway.

It's hanging up to dry right now after the 3rd coat of clearcoat.

I'll probably post up a few pictures in the Show & Tell when I get it all reassembled.