The Bottom Line
I found Lin-Speed Oil to be a little less intuitive to work with than Birchwood-Casey Tru-Oil, and the results are not the same. But it produced a nice matte finish on the old walnut stock, which has gotten compliments whenever I've shown the finished gun to folks, so it definitely works. I wrote an article with many photos of the finishing process, where you can read about the process and see the results for yourself.
All in all, it's a good product, made in the USA by a small company, and it works.
Pros
- Made in USA.
- Produces a true oil finish within the wood, not on top of it.
- The final matte finish really does look great.
- Goes a long way - one small jar will do many gun stocks.
Cons
- If you want a glossy finish, look elsewhere.
- Slow to dry - manufacturer says that even when it's "technically dry," it may remain tacky for days.
- My project took many coats and many days to complete.
Description
- Oil to be used for wood finishing. Works well on gun stocks, and the manufacturer recommends it for "all fine woodwork."
- Available in a two-ounce jar, which is enough to do many gun stocks.
- Produces a matte oil finish that goes below the surface of the wood.
- It may be possible to produce a glossy finish by thinning the oil with mineral spirits, according to Lin-Speed literature I've seen.
Guide Review - GB Lin-Speed Oil Gun Stock Finish Review
I first used Lin-Speed Oil many years ago, when I refinished my first gun stock. The results were poor, so I turned to Birchwood-Casey Tru-Oil for subsequent projects. I finally gave Lin-Speed another chance when I overhauled a derelict Winchester 94, and I'm glad I did.
While the project was time-consuming in every way (I also refinished the gun itself), the results were good and I consider this to be a good product for anyone who wants a true matte oil finish.
I spent a lot of time refinishing this stock, and took many photos as I went. In the end, I put together a photo-rich article about the gun stock refinishing project so folks can see the process and results for themselves.
When I want a glossy finish, I'll look elsewhere, particularly to Birchwood-Casey Tru-Oil, because it's been so good to me over the years, but for a nice deep matte oil finish, Lin-Speed does a real good job.
- Russ Chastain
Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.
