EASY way to stain a Handguard....

[imarangemaster]

I have a lead or two on a handguard swap, but nothing has panned out. I really do like the deep groove bull nose, even though it is not Inland. If I were to strip the handguard with formsbie's, etc, what is a good (read INEXPENSIVE) way to die it darker to match my black walnut stock? I have no problem with the process with BLO after, as I have done it several times. I was actually thinking (uneducated me) of just a garden variety, oil based, black walnut stain from the hardware store. I do remember several years ago on aboard someone saying to use black shoe die to darken walnut to be black walnut. The idea scares me!

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[ulflyer]

When you refer to "black walnut" stock, exactly how dark is it? Is it the basic carbine walnut brown? Or darker? As to your handguard, I wouldn't use black shoe dye under any circumstance. ONce its put on, its permanent, and it will be BLACK! I'd suggest starting with a dark oil based stain. If that don't give you the results you want, then you may have to go with a dye. Speciality wood stores have wood dyes in all colors. I've used a combination of walnut, red oak, mahogany dyes to get the colors I want. Usually this is on birch which don't take oil stains well, but I've also used it on stubborn walnut as well. Start light, work towards the darker. If you can take good pics of your stock and send them to me, perhaps I can help you out.
Send to: Clem@ptmc.net if you like.

[imarangemaster]

THanks, I will send a pic tonight. It is VERY dark brown, and appears almost black in the distance. NO reddish hue to it. It literarily is the color you think of when you say "black walnut." It is beautiful. I may have a trade lined up, but if I don't I will get some oil stain to do it. (No, I really wasn't going to use black shoe dye!!!)

[DaveN]

I've received m1 garands with frt hand guards that were too light. once you get the oil out of the wood I have used dark walnut stain(mimwax from lowes) it was not dark enough so I got a dark ebony stain(the same) and tried a 50/50 mix and it gave me a good result. these are not expensive stocks and I was looking to match the color and settled for about 90%. before the stain they were 3 or 4 shades to light now about 1/2 a shade off. good enugh for goverment work as we used to say.

[Mizzouboy]

There is a local woodworkers store here called "Woodcraft" I think, it is a chain. They sell alcohol-based stains that work well on previously oiled wood, plus you can lighten it a bit after application by rubbing with plain alcohol. The stuff comes in a wide range of colors. I've used it many times, I used a mix of black and mahogany on some Garand wood.

[FTD1167]

This is what I use, the more applications you use darker it will get. I use it with a cotton ball and gloves.
Also will stain through old finishes. You can do abt 5 stocks with 4 oz.
Dixie Gun Works muzzleloading, blackpowder and rare antique gun supplies.

[upnatm]

I have tried using the normal wood stains on a bunch of stocks I have. But, the product that worked best for me was Fiebing's Leather Dye. Easy to work with, and gives it that nice red color