Need a check on my plan for wood/metal finishing steps

[HighUintas]

I've done quite a bit of reading on this, but I feel like the different methods of different people are just blending together. So, I'd like a check on what I'm planning on doing here. The major point I'm not sure on is metal finishing/wood finishing when the furniture is steel and the stock will be scraped.

Reminder- all furniture is steel. Planning on a scraped not sanded wood finish

1- final shaping. wood flush with edges of buttplate.
2- metal finishing - file various metal with wood (inlays, butt plate edges), sand steel furniture after filing while on the gun as much as possible ( 220, 340, 400, blend w maroon 3M). Put all furniture back on stock if not installed.
3- use cherry red from MBS to harden screw heads after sanding/finishing
4- scrape stock
5- whisker stock
6- stain stock, whisker if needed
6b- burnish stock
7- seal stock
8- finish stock
9- sights on barrel
10- apply brass black to steel furniture while off gun and rub back w 0000 steel wool or maroon. 3M
11- install furniture

[mgbruch]

If you're scraping the stock, you might think about burnishing it as well.  Nothing like a scraped and burnished finish in my opinion.  I burnish my guns after the final stain, just before applying the oil to finish.  I' use a piece of antler that I've prepared for the job, and cover the entire stock.

[HighUintas]

Thanks for the suggestion! I had planned on doing that and forgot about it.

I have elk antler I planned to use. I know it needs to be smooth and polished... I assume that it can be polished with sand paper and then polishing compound?

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I have elk antler I planned to use. I know it needs to be smooth and polished... I assume that it can be polished with sand paper and then polishing compound?

I trust you're referring to the elk horn and not the wood stock.

[HighUintas]

I have elk antler I planned to use. I know it needs to be smooth and polished... I assume that it can be polished with sand paper and then polishing compound?

I trust you're referring to the elk horn and not the wood stock.

Hi Taylor, yes I was referring to the elk antler needing to be smooth and polished. I've seen people reference using one of the tips of the antler that is already very smooth, but I think they said they also polished it as well. I'll hack a piece off my skull/antlers from a couple of years ago that my dog got ahold of, which is why it didn't turn into a euro mount  , do some polishing and experiment on a scrap piece of maple.


One other thing I thought of last night is the darkening of the nosecap, key escutcheons and inlays (anything that is permanently fixed to the rifle). I am leaving all the metal in the white, but will use some BC brass black on them and then rub it back to give it a less lustery darker gray color. Is the brass black best applied prior to staining and sealing the stock or after?