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

Not long ag someone posted a site in Canada where Alkanet root could be bought rather inexpensively. If anyone has that info, please repost. Thanks,

Jim

Here's a site that's selling alkanet root. From the Garden State though, not Canada.
http://www.kalyx.com/store/proddetail.cfm/ItemID/317369.0/CategoryID/1000.0/SubCatID/25.0/file.htm

Thanks Yeti. I also found the Canadian site: http://www.wellnaturally.ca/herba-b.html

and one more place:

http://www.zooscape.com/cgi-bin/maitred/GreenCanyon/questc101264/r07

Hey Dig, can you give us the recipe for the "real thing"? I'm always interested in such concotions, and I have a stock to finish in the not so distant future.

Brent

Gordon, the Deft product I referred to is identified as DEFTOIL, and "danish oil finish" on the quart can. The Minwax antique oil is usually available around here. Suggest trying woodworker's specialty stores or catalogs if you're having trouble finding either one.

Dig,
What do YOU call a 'rubbed ENGLISH oil finish'
bear in mind it seems to vary dependant on drying time!!!!!
Your interpretation would be valued, as BrentD said, please do share your knowledge with us and let us move away from Tru-oil and Tung oil finishes.

The oil is sometimes known in the trade as 'slacum' and it is a mixture of a number of ingrdients, recipes vary a little but it is basically turpentine and linseed oil.

Here is one recipe if you want to make it yourself:

Boiled linseed oil – 16 oz
Spirits of turpentine – 2 oz
Carnauba wax – 200 gr
Venice turpentine - 2 teaspoonfuls
Mix together and heat until it simmers. Simmer for ten minutes then allow to cool.
Be careful it does not catch fire -!!!!


However, Napier produces a ready-mixed formula in a neat little box with all the odds and ends to get you started. These kits are available at gun shops and save a lot of mess and smell. I find the Napier bottled oil works very well if used properly.

First prepare the wood - as with any job, the preparation will govern the finished result, so go back to the bare wood, restore the shapes and angles if need be and raise or fill any dents or gouges.

Apply red-oil (turpentine & bolied linseed oil in which alkanet root has been steeped.

When the colour is right, it depends on the wood how many coats this will take.Apply two coats of finishing oil with the palm of the hand sparingly – it will be absorbed. Remove any excess gently with fine wire wool, buff with a lint-free cloth (not a woven one) and then leave for two days before you apply a clear grain-filler, allow it to dry thoroughly and then rub it gently with fine wire wool.

Now begin the finish – this must be built up gradually in VERY thin layers. Rub the finishing oil in with the palm; use half as much as the minimum you think necessary. Do not leave any sticky residue on the wood, rub the oil into the wood until you feel it get hot in your hand. Leave a day between each coat and expect the process to take four or five weeks before it is finished. The results are surprising and pleasing, making all that work worthwhile.

Don't be afraid to cut the finish back with a little oil on a pad of fine wire woolwhen necessary - even half way throuh the process. This will ensure that the finish is smooth and it flattens out any indents where the grain may show. You want the finish to be smooth, flat and even.

I Googled and found the Napier kit at Cheaper Than Dirt for $29 for anyone thats interested

Thanks Gunny, that was going to be my next question. I know my gun shops don't carry anything other than the commonest stuff.

And I forgot to add, THANKS a bunch for your follow up post Dig.

Brent

Caveot Emptor,Napier whilst being an EXCELLANT product, I believe, is NOT a traditional oil finish.What it is, is a modified finish that dries very quickly and gives as standard a very high gloss finish.The kit that Dig mentions contains most of the items required to do a good refinish.
Remember, as I have said many times before on this subject.It is very hard to bottle 100 years of TLC, sweat and care for your piece of wood, which is exactly what as been lavished on the Purdey you are trying to copy.
Alkanet (anchusa officinalis, anchusa tincturia) a European weed. Take about 70grms of beaten / crushed root, immerse in 100ml of pure turpentine for about 4 weeks in a sealed jar then add 100ml of linseed oil and reseal leave for another 3 / 4 weeks and then use as required.
You could also use a potassium permanganate solution of water which will soak much deeper into the wood (and of course raise the grain. AGAIN )this will impart a nice colour which you do have some control over, but remember the addition of successive oil coats will darken the wood progressively so do beware.
Have a snigger at my expense over the following anecdote.
About 10 years ago I had to refinish 10 of No4 Enfield rifles, I lavished about 3 coats of colour to the beautiful smooth wood and then numerous coats of linseed end result = fantastic dark mahogany coloured woodwork FAR too dark to conform with MILSPEC, a BIG NO NO. Result = A very very happy Colonel who's 'Boys' had better rifles than the rest, my boss received a letter of commendation and I got all the Officers shotguns to refurbish and I got paid to do it fulltime rather than as 'just a little favour'
I had plenty of driven days for about 3 years until the Colonel got a posting.