The following might be helpful, even if long.LOL
Find a picture of a stock that you greatly admire and is a wood that is appropriate for the grade of gun you have. Here is the time to upgrade !!:}
Gather fine artists brushes, pens, and other tools to apply colors.
I assume that the wood is prepared and ready for color, having been sanded, checkered and bleached with Oxalic acid.
I use alcohol or water based colors, stains and pens. Artists water colors can be used but I prefer aniline stains and dyes.
See
http://www.woodfinishsupply.com/tecAniline.htmlIf you will look at Doug's pics, you will note that there is a bright yellow underneath. This is the first to be done.
Imagine that you are doing a "paint by numbers" painting and apply, using swabs, non cotton "cotton balls", brushes, etc. and put in the background colors.Let each step dry well before proceeding. Don't worry about accuracy. This is an art work and an original piece. It is fine to go outside the "lines'.:}
Using markers,draw in the black and other dark lines where wanted. Here is where you need to take care to hide the extension line.
Remember that you are not wanting the base to have solid lines of demarcation but want sort of blurred lines. A very light stroke of plain alcohol will soften any too harsh line and bleed it into the surrounded color.
When you are satisfied with the pattern, stop and allow it to dry for a couple of days.
I might note here that the checkering should be colored along with the other areas of the stock. Be sure to do both the butt and the forend at the same time.
Now is the time to be certain that you like what you have done. If it is totally displeasing, wash it well and bleach with oxalic acid again and start over. Sand off the "hairs" that may have been raised.
The fact that you have used water or alcohol solved colors, you may have raised a few more grain hairs. Lightly sand and tack rag off any of them and any dust. Now proceed to apply an oil based finish. The oil will not affect the colors.
I hope that this helps and guarantee that you will have fun,both during and after the work. You will let the artist , in you, out and when others see the finished product, they will be bug eyed.
Best,
John
PS---If this cosmetic process bothers you, I can assume that your lovely lady needs no Max Factor to look as beautiful as she can.LOL
