| K98 |
| (.224 member) |
| 02/03/20 10:18 AM |
Stock finish
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I tried searching thru old posts but came up with nothing. I’m refinishing an old Model B stock. The wood is very light colored not much darker than pine. Does anyone know what kind of stain or dye would be a close color to the original finishes? Most all of the Vintage rifles I’ve seen have the really dark brown color even though the English Walnut it was made from is very light. I understand age has added to the color but what can be used to make a close match?
| DarylS |
| (.700 member) |
| 02/03/20 12:12 PM |
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Re: Stock finish
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MinWax stains. The minwax stains are oil based.
| thirdbite |
| (.224 member) |
| 02/03/20 12:42 PM |
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Re: Stock finish
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My experience with MinWax stains is that they dissolve in the finishing oil. I find analine dye much easier to use, but prefer alkanet oil. Some woods I've used alkanet oil on just don't seem to take the color, so use analine dye for those.
| Marrakai |
| (.416 member) |
| 02/03/20 02:57 PM |
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Re: Stock finish
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I like to use alkanet root infusion to darken stockwood and impart that marvellous red tinge suggestive of old oil finish.
Might not give the typical brown colour of a Type B, better for the Type A perhaps.
The added advantage of alkanet is that it enhances the contrast of the grain, rather than muddying the figure like conventional stains.
I infuse the alkanet chips in a 50:50 mix of gum turpentine and linseed oil, but linseed oil alone is usually recommended for those with more patience than me!
Also I have convinced myself that the thinner infusion takes the red colour deeper into the wood.
Mineral turps is probably just as good as gum turpentine, but doesn't smell quite so business-like!
| 85lc |
| (.375 member) |
| 03/03/20 03:48 AM |
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Re: Stock finish
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I have used alkanet root and turpentine. I allow the alkanet to soak for about a week or two an then evenly paint the stock with the stained turpentine. I may go over that several times to get the right color.
I then lightly apply several coats of alkanet root stained boiled linseed oil. The last two coats have a few drops of true oil mixed in as that actually sets up. A gunsmith I know adds a small amount of Japanese drier to his alkanet/linseed oil.
| pjaln |
| (.375 member) |
| 07/03/20 08:12 AM |
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Re: Stock finish
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look into behlens water based stain ,but be careful they penetrate pretty good ...paul
| Vladymere |
| (.300 member) |
| 07/03/20 09:24 AM |
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Re: Stock finish
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I have used Behlen Solar Lux stain, I believe it is an alcohol based stain, followed by pure boiled linseed oil or pure tung oil. I prefer tung oil. Make sure these oils are pure with no additives. BLO by definition does have a drier added to it.
Vlad
| DarylS |
| (.700 member) |
| 07/03/20 12:52 PM |
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Re: Stock finish
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I like circa 1850 Tung Oil now, for a stock finish.
In the past I've had good performance with Spar Varnish
and True Oil, with both giving long lasting finishes.
The Spar Varnish is about as water proof as you can get, but it stays tacky a long time. Drying
time is long, with the requisite to keep the stock isolated from dust.
Thus, the compromise is Tung Oil.
| Waidmannsheil |
| (.400 member) |
| 07/03/20 01:31 PM |
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Re: Stock finish
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I have had good results with pure tung oil.
Matt.
| DarylS |
| (.700 member) |
| 07/03/20 04:16 PM |
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Re: Stock finish
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I read an article, many years ago, written by a good-guide on the East coast - north of NY. He guided for Brant and Canada Geese (I think Canada Geese),
and found with the fall rains, his shotgun needed re-finishing by mid fall, every year.
Over the years of trying all of the various products, he finally settled on Spar Varnish, which was the ONLY finish he could find that would last the whole season,
so he re-finished his gun, ever winter and spring, allowing 3 to 5 days for each coat to harden before applying another.
That's when I switched to spar varnish for my Citori's fall hunts and work, it did. When the steel shot laws came in, I sold it & have not needed a spar varnish finish since.
It works for severe inclement weather. I suspect even the factory plastic/epoxy finishes are not as good.
| pjaln |
| (.375 member) |
| 08/03/20 10:05 AM |
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Re: Stock finish
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spar varnish hand rubbed with a japan drier ...paul
| Yochanan |
| (.375 member) |
| 08/03/20 09:50 PM |
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Re: Stock finish
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I have used Ethanol to extract colour of Alkanet root. Easy to strain the stock with. Then I use Rustins tung oil and several coats.. Pumice powder dissolved as poorfiller. Add some alkanet to tung oil to get the colour right.
Last coats are with Rustins Danish oil - it will leave a nice finish but also harden and seal the wood quite well. I use renaissance wax on all my guns to protect them from fingerprints, salt stains, water, grit, blood etc.