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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 190 Likes: 11
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 190 Likes: 11 |
I have had SKB (of the DG board) recently reproduce a walnut stock for an American SXS. The wood is highly figured (feather crotch) in the butt and straight grained through the wrist. My question is: Should I stain (dye stain) the wood or simply use my oil finish to bring out the grain? What do most of you do?
The only constant in life is change.
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 180
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 180 |
I only ever stain an inferiour wood (if neccessary) if you have a proper walnut stock, any good stock oil finish will be the best solution. Best thing to do, if you're not certain, is to try on a spare piece of similar walnut and see what it looks like after staining and oiling
Best regards from England Gunter
Last edited by Gunter; 04/28/16 10:54 AM.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 7,085 Likes: 462
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 7,085 Likes: 462 |
That stick of wood will darken up nicely and give you a nice red tone without adding stain is my feeling. I usually add alkenet root to my finish but I would go very carefully with your piece of wood. Stain could cause it to end up too dark. This is a Sterlingworth I stocked for a client last year. The wood is very similar to yours and has no stain or root added to the finish.
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 521 Likes: 4
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 521 Likes: 4 |
I think actual stains are tricky and probably would not try it on a nice piece of wood. That said, I think there are few gunstocks that would not benefit from some sort of help. Colored shellacs used as filler and tinted oils (e.g. Pilkington) are good at raising contrast. One thing I tried recently was Herter's recreation of the Winchester reddish-brown; it has a filler in it and I was expecting a somewhat murky finish. I was surprised at the nice, clear contrast and color that it imparted to a piece of Claro - might go with the Herters.
Others have suggested trying several options. on scraps. Unless you already have a particular go-to finish, that's good advice.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,715 Likes: 114
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,715 Likes: 114 |
I suggest cheap wood and Mark Larson...Geo
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 582
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 582 |
Back in the late 70's when I was an apprentice carpenter, I talked the superintendent ( a gifted woodworker) into helping me build a grandfather clock. When it came time for finishing, he asked me if I wanted just the finish (in this case, nitrocellulose lacquer) or stained and then lacquered. I didn't hesitate with my response: "Oh of course, lacquer only." He then asked if he could stain one sample and compare it to a lacquer only piece. I agreed, and hands down, the proper stain, judiciously applied, greatly enhanced the color and figure of the walnut.
I'm with Gunter- you have nothing to lose by staining a small sample, perhaps one of the off cuts from the stock work.
Mike
Tolerance: the abolition of absolutes
Consistency is the currency of credibility
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,405
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,405 |
The natural color of the wood is ALWAYS the best way to go. Unless a repair is needing to be blended or sap wood or aomething of the sort, there is no good reason to use stain.
The type of finishes used can have a real effect on the color of the wood.
B.Dudley
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,937 Likes: 17
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,937 Likes: 17 |
I like to stain plain walnut a reddish color, beautiful stock SKB. Bobby
Last edited by bbman3; 04/28/16 07:18 PM.
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,134 Likes: 216
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,134 Likes: 216 |
Alkanet with Walnut can if applied properly produce's a wood finish looking far better than just applying a straight finish. Walnut Alkanet and an oil finish can produces a finish that improves the wood's looks far above what you would expect.
The only lessons in my life I truly did learn from where the ones I paid for!
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,469 Likes: 488
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,469 Likes: 488 |
The type of finishes used can have a real effect on the color of the wood. This statement by Brian Dudley may be the most important in the entire conversation. Take a bunch of pieces of planed and sanded walnut, and apply as many natural or untinted wood finishes to each piece as you have on hand. I did this several years ago as an experiment using clear polyurethane, spar varnish, Minwax and Laurel Mountain oil modified urethanes, Watco Danish Oil, Waterlox tung oil, Linspeed, and several other finishes. You will be amazed at the difference in the finished appearance on the same piece of wood. There will also be a difference with different species of walnut, and even with different grain or porosity within the same species. The earlier advice to use a test sample of the same wood with your choice of finish and/or stain is the best way to avoid disappointment or do-overs.
A true sign of mental illness is any gun owner who would vote for an Anti-Gunner like Joe Biden.
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