Harvdog's 870 Express Refinish Project


HarvDog

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From Tominator:

Harv's new stock is on its way to me as we speak. Hopefully, I'll see the FedEx guy today so I can finish it before school starts.

BTW--Harv, do you want a walnut stain on yours, or do you want to stay with the light color of birch? I will tell you that Remington tints its finish a little red which covers up the grain in the birch.

Up to you. Let me know.

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What do you think will look better? Do you have pictures of the different possibilities?

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Re: Harvdog\'s 870 Express Refinish Project

sanded_001.jpg

Scraped and ready for sanding

sanded_003.jpg

Forestock sanded to 120

sanded_002.jpg

Buttstock sanded to 120

Well, so far, only a few surprises. The buttstock is very light in color. I won't swear to it, but it might be sap wood. If it is, that would explain why Remington has trouble with these stocks checking. I did find a hairline line that might check in the future. I'm going to try and seal it up as best I can.

The forestock has a lot of character. Definitely made from heartwood, it is darker in color and has a lot more visible grain. It might have come from quarter sawn wood based on the grain I'm seeing. I think the forestock would look very good with no stain on it.

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Re: Harvdog\'s 870 Express Refinish Project

Lookin' good man! I'm a bit surprised about the differences in the wood since the lady at Remington told me they would pull it together if I ordered it together. Nevertheless, I'm sure it will turn out great. Thanks for keeping me updated while I'm at the beach. grin.gif

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Re: Harvdog\'s 870 Express Refinish Project

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Lookin' good man! I'm a bit surprised about the differences in the wood since the lady at Remington told me they would pull it together if I ordered it together. Nevertheless, I'm sure it will turn out great. Thanks for keeping me updated while I'm at the beach. grin.gif

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Well, it's matched as far as the crappy paint/shelac they put on it. The finish they put on it is supposed to make the birch look like walnut, and it does until you take it off.

Anyway, I got the stain and poly today. Gonna get it down to 280 grit tonight, hopefully the first coat of poly tomorrow.

Probably won't post pics of the finishing sanding as I don't think you could tell the difference in pictures on the web. Really the only thing you do with 280+ grits is get the "haze" off the end grain. Don't think that would show up in the picture.

I'll post a pic of the buttstock after I stain it.

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Re: Harvdog\'s 870 Express Refinish Project

400grit_001.jpg

Just had to post a pic of the forestock on this gun. This piece of birch is almost as pretty as birch gets. Look at the grain. Pretty sure this is quarter sawn birch, heartwood at that. It's going to look nice. I spent about an hour sanding it to 400 grit last night.

Too bad the buttstock is plain jane birch. frown.gif

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Re: Harvdog\'s 870 Express Refinish Project

1stcoat_002.jpg

Buttstock stained.

The two pieces of wood are so different I'm afraid if I try to match the forestock to the buttstock in color, it will get too dark. Personally I think the forestock should get no stain, and I think the two will come close to matching. The buttstock was so porous because it is sap wood. But I think the two will be fine once the finish is on.

Here's the forestock with the first coat of poly on.

1stcoat_003.jpg

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Re: Harvdog\'s 870 Express Refinish Project

Did you guys take a look at the pictures I put on the other associated thread? Looks like Harvdog's stock is coming out about like my 12 gauge in grain and color. I'm very glad I did mine. Makes the gun look so much better than it did with the original finish. Good job Chris!

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Re: Harvdog\'s 870 Express Refinish Project

[ QUOTE ]

Did you guys take a look at the pictures I put on the other associated thread? Looks like Harvdog's stock is coming out about like my 12 gauge in grain and color. I'm very glad I did mine. Makes the gun look so much better than it did with the original finish. Good job Chris!

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I saw that WABS. I think Remington uses a low grade birch for the buttstock, and quartersawn wood for the forestock. The forestock is so thin, I think it needs stronger wood, so that wood is made from heartwood.

Gonna' put on another coat of poly here soon.

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Re: Harvdog\'s 870 Express Refinish Project

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I'm interested in what the two pieces will look like together......

hint hint

Very cool grain on the forearm......

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Geez, you guys aren't too demanding are you? grin.gif

OK, tomorrow. 3rd coat for the fore, 2nd coat for the butt I'll try and get a picture of them both together.

You know this is going to scare the bejeebers out of ol' Harv. He's a tough guy to please, but the wood's stained already, not much I can do now. crazy.gif

I'm having trouble getting the poly to dry in a day's time. It was still a little tacky this morning. I put it near the dehumidifier today, that should help. It's been pretty humid here in Ohio.

Picture tomorrow. cool.gif

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