Wood stain

[Brian Dick]

One other thing. I use grocery store grade clear ammonia to clean woodwork before patching, gluing, etc. If you use it, be sure to use it outdoors too for obvious reasons.

[Black Lab]

I have been trying a few different things to get my front walnut hand guard to match the rest of my walnut stained Beech stock. The Birchwood Casey walnut stain made the hand guard way to dark, so I scrubbed that off and figured I would have to tint it red somehow. I looked all over town and the only thing that came close to what I wanted was a " Acrylic Artists Ink " in a " Earth Red" color. After I put that on I thought OMG and tried to wipe it off. Well the surplus came off, but it was now Pink Oh well, I thought maybe the Walnut stain would tone it down, if not I figured I would strip or bleach it. Any how it looked OK that night. Actually looked not bad. next day I took it out into the sun and you can see it doesn't match. Again I scrubbed everything off and thought I would try Mahogany oil stain. Way to dark, didn't even try. Got a can of Varathane brand "Traditional Cherry" stain. Looks Very Close. I'll have to see it outside tomorrow when it's dry.

[stockerphil]

Hi,

Looks like you are having fun. I've been doing stiock finishing work for a gunsmith shop for 4+ years now and lots of jobs are a new challenge.

Let us know how the cherry stain works out. In your picture it looks a bit light, but if so you can put another layer on until it darkens.

If you haven't looked in the Brownell catalog you ought to. Pilkington Pre 64 looks like it might match. Always thin your stain down and apply multiple coats rather than trying to hit it in one coat. By the way, do you wet the wood when comparing the stain results? Many stains look really crappy when dry but match very well when wet. And the way they look wet is how they will look after you put some finish on top of the stain. You can wipe them with water or mineral spirits or alcohol to see how they will look.

Another place to look is in Woodcraft, they carry many dyes and stains. They have powder to be mixed with water and others for alcohol mixing. They also have a prepared liquid version called Transtint that can be mixed with water or alcohol. I use their red/brown and their brown

Another idea, when I get a stock too red, you can apply a thin coat of green over it and it makes the red into brown. Sometimes looks green tinted when dry but wet it and you find it really does look good when coated in finish

Phil

[Black Lab]

I applied another two coats of Cherry stain and decided that's close enough, I have run out of patients. Now it's into the bath with my Home Brew. I know it's supposed to have BLO, but like I said in the first post, the barrel had been cut back 1/4" so I figured I could take some liberties. Beside it's nothing someone can't fix after they pry it out of "My Cold Dead Hands" More Pictures tomorrow. Jack

[Black Lab]

After about 6 hours of soaking in my warm Home Brew This is what it looks like the next day. I think the cheek piece is a bit dark, but overall I am happy. The pictures cast some odd shadows that aren't really there I figure it's had enough Home Brew after 6 hours soaking. But should I repeat with BLO for another 4/5 day's ? It dried up quite fast the first night.

[Edward Horton]

Black Lab

Keep applying the linseed oil until it no longer soaks into the wood. Think of the wood as if it was a dry sponge, the deeper it soaks into the wood the better off you will be.

Mr. Laidler stated that during the yearly teardown inspection of issued Enfields the stocks were put in a tank of hot linseed oil and allowed to soak overnight.

Wallpaper wetting tray "soaking tank"

[Black Lab]

I would of left it in the Home Brew longer, but seeing as it had stain in it as well as being only 1" deep I had to keep turning and brushing it. I finally said enough at 2:30 am. "Got to Go" to bed sometime. I'll go to the hardware store tomorrow and get some of that Good Canuck BLO. You know the Stuff that Won't make Your "Wee Wee" Fall Off Jack

[colonel blimp]

What a fantastic and informative thread, chaps. It's been so useful for when I re-do the mismatched woodwork on mine. Thanks for posting the 'safety warnings' as well - they're appreciated.

Paul