Allen Martin's Yellow Highlighted Pre-Stained Stock.

[Frozen Run]

So I haven't seen this discussed anywhere and I'm pretty sure it's not a trade secret of his since he had the rifle on public display at CLA a year ago? If it is a trade secret or he doesn't feel like discussing it then this thread can be removed no hard feelings and sorry for bringing it up.

So Allen had a gun on public display that was somewhere around the "in the white" stage that had bright yellow spots and areas sporadically on the the bare wood. It was the one with the faux buttplate. The spots and areas were almost a canary yellow and so faint could only be seen when the light hits them at the right angle. I've heard a couple of explanations for this but nothing from the source. First, that it was a trans-tint or similar product used to accentuate certain areas once the stain is applied? The second explanation was it was some sort of product applied to the entire surface of the gun that makes it easier during the final stages of prep work to highlight and then even out the subtle high and low spots that popped up over the build?

Thank you for your help in explaining the matter.       

[bob in the woods]

I've used yellow food colouring for years. Helps to show the scratches I missed.

[Eric Kettenburg]

I remember someone telling me probably 30 years ago or more about yellow food coloring for that kind of thing.  Don't remember who.  I've never tried it but I can certainly see a value in doing so.  There's always stuff that shows up after staining and you think "darn it" if you're going for a certain level of finish.

[smart dog]

Hi,
Pick your colors.  Yellow, pink, orange, or black.










No blue or green yet.

dave

[BOB HILL]

I’ve used a coat of very thinned dwn dark brown alcohol based dye. It will give you a yellow tint and disappear as you sand. It will make any imperfection shine.
Bob

[dadybear1]

GREAT IDEA---THANKS

[alacran]

Just use diluted tannic acid, it will do everything food coloring does, with the added benefit of revealing how the wood you have responds to it.

[Daniel Coats]

Green River Rifle Works were using pink and yellow during my 1975 factory visit.

[AMartin]

Allen Martin doesn't have any trade secrets !! He don't know much either !!

The gun you are referring to was Wayne's Scrubby in-the-white ... It was supposed to be finished by the show but I ran out of time , so I brought her along in the nude !! She's such a show-off !!

To answer your question on what I used to highlight the wood , I didn't use anything . I never did, never will ..
If there are tool marks present (not sandpaper scratches) I will sometime leave em as parts of effect I'm seeking ..

When I have a gun stock all completed .. ready for carving or finish .. I wet the stock one with a damp rag , after it dries , I scrape with my little razor scraper ... sometimes I'll burnish but most times not .
Then I apply my yellow or golden aniline water base dye as a base coat .. then a dark brown to make the curl pop .. then onto finish ...
Darkened varnish is my deeper colors that come later in the finish .. and so on ..
Hope this answers your questions ..

Allen

[Frozen Run]

Awesome, thank you everyone!