doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Alkanet Root - Reddish Stock Look

Cody,
Most of these 'spirit based' stains will work through an oil based finish as Yogi said. From the smell I think the spirit is MEK, a non chlorinated solvent.

Cody. the stock on my Sarasqueta had been finished with TO a few months before I tried the stain. Went right through the hardened finish and believe it or not, brought out some hidden fiddlebck grain. I couldn't be happier with the result. Hope this helps you out. To hell with the chemistry of alkanet root. Also, Pilkington's spirit stain stinks. Rubbed right off when I applied the first coat of True Oil. Chopper

Thanks, I'll have to try to find some of this Behlen stuff and experiment.

Cody

We have a Woodcraft store where I live and I bought a bottle of the Behlens Blood Red. I am gathering ingredients to make "traditional" red oil and will compare that with Behlens and my old standard-Fiebings Mahogany Leather Dye.

The Fiebings gives a very dark red stain. You can lighten it by wiping down the stock with denatured alcohol on a paper towel. I really like this dye, but am always looking for something better.

Thanks Yeti.

Marc, I've used fiebings on curly maple and it gives a nice colour but fades real bad.

Cody

Chopper, how about some pictures?

JC(AL)

Although I claim to have the mind of an eight-year old boy, nonetheless, a calendar reminds me that I am of 7/15/36 vintage, ergo totally out of touch with modern photography. However, my good neighbor whose Rem. 700 .270 on which we will soon refinish the stock, is conversant with modern stuff. In short, I'll have Scott snap a few of my Sarasqueta and he will know how to send tham along. P.S. might even include a few of his 700 after completion. Chopper

I'll update you when I have a finished stock to report on - Just got back from Norway and too busy at work to do much with guns this month - managing to get my Lee grouse gun prepared but not ready for oil yet. Still raising dents and clewaning out checkering etc.

The redo oil works fine - just did an Edwinson Green - came up very nice. All the black figure darkened well and the red coloured the rest of the wood in fine contrast. The finish i Used was the Napier stock oil. This is good stuff, my only criticism ofit is that it needs alot of drying time between very fine coats if the finished result is to be hard enough.

The finish always shines up well, but the hardness at the end is where the drying is critical.

Linseed Oil and a little Alkanet Root steeped in mineral spirits.... I blend them together to get a nice red colour.

Then I add gloss Spar Varnish 50 / 50 by volume. Gives the shine I like.

But it is slow to dry.

Anyone have any better idea of how to speed it up and give me a nice deep shine?