doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DIY Gunsmithing @ doublegunshop.com alkanet oil stain

I use the above method.

I make my alkanet root by heating up linseed oil and dumping shredded root in it - the heat will pull all the pigment from the root and colour the oil.

Allow the oil to cool.

With your stock well prepped apply the alkanet root oil generously heating it with a heat gun till the stock is warm all over leave the soaking stock to stand, periodically topping up the oil as it soaks in. Once your happy with the colour allow the stock to stand for several days. Once happy begin oil finishing.
you will find even very light woods can be turned very dark and will drink up an inconceivable amount of this oil when hot, keep your heat gun on a low setting so as not to burn the wood.

If you must stain i like to use a water based stain. Apply till the finished product is darker than you really want it. Apply your red oil and some of the stain will leach back out. Once your red oil has had time to soak in and dry then apply your finishing oil, on stained pieces instead of building up very fine coats i apply finishing oil heavily, not worrying about marks or runs, when it is tacky and some places have soaked up the finish apply again, untill the wood will not absorb any oil and its sitting heavily on the surface, leave for a few days to allow the oil to harden. Cut back with fine paper lubricated with oil such as 800 or 1000 grit. once the surface is smooth and level then rub out a few top coats, it tends to be poorer grade wood that requires staining with more open grain so this helps quickly fill the grain as apposed to fine coats rubbed off with rottenstone.

I may have to give heating the stock a go. I have always applied the red oil at room temp and have been happy with the results but I like to try new things as well.

The German stockmakers I knew(not many) Soaked the stocks( if they intended to color them) in a "tank"( looked like a big tray) of oil with the pigment, until it took up all the oil it wanted, then hung it over the tank to drain. This seems to be less labor intensive while doing the same thing. It still took time, maybe the heating idea would help that.
Mike

I feel that the method of saturating the stock in Red Oil goes along the path of the colour you end up with is not under your control. Applying it coat after coat lets you decide on the finished depth of colour rather than in the lap of the gods.

Damascus,
If you are the one doing the work, I believe you are the one that should decide how to do it.
Mike

Der Ami. I thought this forum was a place for exchange of information and ideas. Why did you not post your view at the beginning? or is it just trying to be smart at my expense, and only your thoughts are the ones that count or carry any valued weight. If every person doing some form of work or art where not open to other peoples Ideas and thoughts the human race would still be walking around in animal skins and eating raw meat.

I might know of a piece of wood you could try that on...

I wonder if the heating is really about the cooling that comes afterwards and if the oils might be sucked as the stock cools and the air in the stock contracts.

Damascus,
I suggest you read my comment again. I only said if you are doing the work, do what you think is best, not what I observed someone else doing. NO I was not being Smart at your expense, I think the misunderstanding came about because of differences between "Southern English" and "English English".
Mike

Here's an article from Diggory Haddoke's website. Might be helpful in your stock refinishing ventures:

https://www.vintageguns.co.uk/magazine/making-oils-for-stock-finishing

The sticky thread of Damascus's finishing process is also definitely worth a close read

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