Stain adsorption on end grain

[jlynn]

I need some advice please.  What is the best way to control stain adsorption  on the end grain areas around the edges of the lock panel.  In the past, I have lightly sealed the areas but the result is generally uneven as to stain color away from the area.  Would sealing and then heavy sanding the area work? The area is curley anyway.

[bgf]

Sanding the end grain a couple of grits or more past the rest helps some.  I also like to tint the finish, that seems to help level out minor differences.   A little difference on end grain  is OK in my opinion (not worth much) on most places, as it reads a little like a shadow line and gives the feature more definition, e.g. on the lock panels, but I know you want to minimize the differences, especially in some areas: On some stocks, the wrist can be a big problem, although long rifles tend to minimize the issues compared to modern stocks, with their pistol grips and usually uncapped fore ends,etc..

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I scrape and sand to 320, and burnish the wood with a piece of rope's end.  I don't see a stain absorption problem. 

[rich pierce]

Taylor's right on with burnishing.  I usually burnish tool handles (tomahawk, hammer, axe) I make with the drawknife, spokeshave and scrapers and have found that aggressive burnishing with antler almost completely blocks any stain penetration. Practically waterproofs the wood.  Obviously that's too aggressive for a gun stock but shows what burnishing can do.

[jlynn]

Thank you gentlemen-burnishing worked very well

[Stophel]

Best thing to do is to use Aqua Fortis to stain with, and forget the aniline dyes.  Then you don't have to worry about the end grain turning dark.   

[twistedtree]

Sand extra fine and use the prestain, a couple of coats.