How to Repair Gunstock Imperfections

Filling small voids and knot holes in a gun stock is an easy job if you know how—and you've got the right supplies. Let me show you how this is done.

I have a knot that needs to be filled before we can begin finishing the stock. It's quite a large void so I need something other than regular stock filling. That's not a problem, we'll use some clear shellac along with a piece of 220-grit sandpaper.

After thoroughly mixing the shellac, I use a wooden toothpick to place a small drop in the knot, it doesn't take much.

Next, I'll sand over the top of it. The sand and dust mixes with the shellac and fills the void while matching the color of the wood. I'll repeat the process once more, just to be sure it's filled.

Lastly, using a lamp will provide a bit of heat, helping dry the shellac. Now it's completely filled and level with the surface of the wood.

Filling small knot holes is just one of the tricks of the stock makers trade.

-- Larry Potterfield