Need help refinishing birch rifle stock

[Specter65]

I have a Marlin stock made of birch that I'd like to refinish. It has checkering that is pressed into the wood rather than cut into it. My concern is that the stripper or the water used to clean off all the stripper may cause these areas to swell and lose the detail of the checkering. Is this a valid concern? If so, is there any special way I can get the old finish off the checkered areas? If I can get that far, it should be no problem as far as sanding and putting a new finish on.

[preeng2]

That is possible. Why not use a solvent based stripper that you use minerial spirits or thinner to clean the stripper residue?

[Specter65]

Now that's the kind of advice I've been looking for. I have to be honest in saying I have never stripped any wood or furniture before. I simply have experience working with projects from scratch where it's a creative process. Are there any particular products that would be better that others when it comes to solvent based chemicals?

[preeng2]

Kleen Strip KS-3

[Specter65]

As birch is a new wood to me for staining and finishing, is there any particular type of stain and sealant that is preferable? I'd like to have a hard, durable and satiny finish rather than rubbed oil.

With the weather as humid as it is, being outside at the rifle range is very unpleasant. It would be a good time to have the rifle apart to work on it. I even have a cool/dry tool room off the carport where it can dry away from humidity, particulate and bugs.