At KICK-EEZ®, providing top-notch customer support is something of primary importance in all that we do. Each month, we gladly field numerous questions from customers shopping for, or installing, our world-famous Sorbothane®-based rifle and shotgun recoil pads. We hope that by publishing the most asked question each month, we can help others who are purchasing and installing a KICK-EEZ recoil pad on a gun of their own.
The Glossy Look of KICK-EEZ Shotgun and Rifle Recoil Pads
The most frequently asked question from the month of September was: Can I restore the original shine or 'gloss' to my KICK-EEZ® Recoil Pad?
Question: Can I restore the original shine or 'gloss' to my KICK-EEZ® Recoil Pad?
Answer: KICK-EEZ Recoil Pads ship with a glossy finish that is only temporary. Never use varnish, shellac, or similar materials to try to restore the 'glossy' appearance of your KICK-EEZ Recoil Pad as most can cause an undesired, harmful chemical reaction that will damage the recoil pad.
Never Apply Chemicals to a KICK-EEZ Recoil Pad
As a result of the manufacturing process, KICK-EEZ Recoil Pads have a “glossy” appearance; however, this glossy finish is only temporary. We recognize a fair amount of our customers prefer the look of a “glossy” pad. However, just as many customers prefer a matte, or “dull” finish on their recoil pads.
Normal use over time, oxidation, and of course sanding will cause the 'glossy' look of KICK-EEZ Recoil Pads to change to a matte finish. In an effort to restore the shine to KICK-EEZ Recoil Pads, customers often wonder if they can use varnish, shellac, and similar materials that are advertised to restore the original shine to products.
Please be advised, KICK-EEZ recommends you NEVER use any of these products to attempt to recreate the new gloss shine of our recoil pads, as most will cause a detrimental chemical reaction with Sorbothane, the visco-elastic material all KICK-EEZ Recoil Pads are made of. Applying chemical products to a KICK-EEZ Recoil Pad will void the warranty.
Creating a Matte Finish for a KICK-EEZ Recoil Pad
When sanding KICK-EEZ Recoil Pads to fit your stock, the sanding process immediately creates a 'matte' finish to the area of the pad that is sanded as the top layer of gloss is removed. If you want to match the same 'matte' finish to the rest of your pad immediately, as opposed to waiting for this to happen naturally, you can use 400-grit sand paper or a kitchen 'scrubbing' sponge and scrub the entire recoil pad without doing damage.
Learn More About Recoil Pad Installation
