First time finishing a stock

[03GeeTee]

Just completed my first staining project ever, I used my Yugo M72 as the first "victim" it started out with pretty much no finish at all and the wood was pretty dry. It's not perfect, but I think it looks pretty good. Some people might think that it's too glossy for an AK but I like it.

Here's a stock pic similar to what it looked like before

Now the AFTER pics

 

[Snookie]

LOOKS GREAT!
Good Job!

 

[bearfutedninja]

LOOKS GREAT!
Good Job!

+1

 

[jgreg]

+2

 

[f350drvr]

I like it, don't think it's too shiny.

 

[tactical723]

If you want to take a little of gloss off and just make it a beautiful sheen (matte), use some very fine steel wool and rub on it, it will still give you a very deep look to it, but will take the extra crisp gloss off of it, you will still see the grain through the matte shine

 

[leVieux]

Looks good to me.

 

[03GeeTee]

Thanks for all the comments guys, I think I'm gonna keep it shiny. Makes it look more classy lol

 

[SpeedRacer]

Looks good man! What did you use to stain/finish it?

FWIW, most AKs are actually finished with varnish that is indeed glossy.

 

[asianak]

Looks good to me!

 

[stormrider54]

I think it looks real sharp! Love that gloss.
I am just about finished refinishing the stock on my Mosin Nagant, I think it is coming along well also. Don't have any before pictures though but it was very dark and ugly. It is my first attempt also.

 

[03GeeTee]

Looks good man! What did you use to stain/finish it?

FWIW, most AKs are actually finished with varnish that is indeed glossy.

I used Minwax Polyshades 2 in 1.

It stains and also has polyurethane so you don't need anything else which made it really easy. I sanded with 220 grit and 320 before putting on the first coat, let it dry overnight, sanded some more with 320 then put on 2 more coats. I put the Ak next to my Mosin Nagant and the finish is actually very similar, with the mosin having a bit more of an orange tint to it.