1. THE ALLURE OF THE OIL FINISHED STOCK

2. MYTHS, LEGENDS AND REAL SECRETS

- debunks the so called trade secrets and shows how linseed oil works and how to exploit its natural properties

Chapter 2 - The Real Secrets; the surface must be polished, the grain must be sealed.

3. WOOD- THE STARTING POINT

- assess the wood before starting, avoid pitfalls like veneers and risking the value of antiques. Explains the difference in finishing new wood and refinishing old stocks

Chapter 3 - The brand new unfinished wood. Renovating old stocks -beware antiques!

4. TOOLS AND MATERIALS

- what is really needed to get outstanding results

5. THE NEW STOCK

- tackling a new totally unfinished stock

The New Stock

6. STRIPPING, CLEANING, DENT RAISING

- see how to strip, how to raise dents using simple tools

Areas of stubborn varnish will need more dabbing with paint stripper. Once the wood is stripped and clean check for dents.

7. SEALING

- using modern varnish to build a deep moisture barrier in the wood

Varnish the inner surface, though not as generously, to seal and protect these these hidden recesses from moisture ingress. When the varnish is absorbed, as in the centre of this side, apply more varnish. The point at this stage is saturation.

8. COLORING

- simple home made, non toxic, coloring agents

Alkanet root dissolved in alcohol gives more control over coloring than the alkanet mixed with the oil.

9. EGG WHITE- THE ORGANIC OLD TIME FILLER

- the traditional wood filler, used by the great masters of painting and furniture makers of the past to fill the pores in wood

Carefully separate the egg white from the yolk. No part of the yolk should be mixed with the egg white.

10. POLISHING IS VITAL

- the foundation of wood finishing shown in detail

With the finer grades of polishing paper, the 800 and 1000 it is possible to dispense with the backing block as long as the fingers are perpendicular to the strokes.

11. APPLYING LINSEED OIL

- how to apply the oil is important, and here you see the true hand rubbed way

The oil is rubbed in with the heel of the hand. This is the hand rubbed oil finish!

12. THE FINAL BUFFING

- make your own buffing compound to give your stocks a brilliant surface

Rub vigorously with common cloth or paper towel. This is the surface you get with that final buffing. It shines because it was polished to 1000 before the oil was applied.

13. WAXING WITH NATURAL BEESWAX

- make your own wax paste to protect and enhance wood surfaces

14. UPGRADING THE FACTORY FINISH

- a simple and fast way to upgrade the factory matt fiish to a full linseed oil finish

15. RENOVATING AN OLD FINISH

- an old and tired stock can be revived to almost new brilliance

The rouge mix is vigorously rubbed along the grain. The stock has been cleaned and the surface has been restored.

16. THE PROCESS FROM START TO FINISH

- step by step photo presentation starting from bare wood to a fully finished hand rubbed stock

Several coats of oil later the stock is beginning to show its true colors. Compare the color with the raw wood in the first photo. The completely dry finish is rubbed down with the rouge-oil mix.