Staining a Sycamore stock

[Acer Saccharum]

Cool list, rich. Pignut hickory looks like the densest wood at SG of .75

[halfstock]

I'm pretty sure that everyone is gonna go off on thier own tangent on your question, but staining a piece of scrap is probably the right way to go, if I were you I would try some fiebings leather dye on at least one pice I think you might be very pleasantly surprised. Most makers stick with what they have been told rather than experiment, I commend you for willing to try something new, I expect our forefathers did the samething. Try it you might like it.

Halfstock

[Tom Currie]

Hey Acer, If Stoph's not gonna make Dixon's, I'll take dibs on the other half of that six pack  Looks like I'll make it there this year after missing last year. I've got a nice american elm in my backyard about 24 " in diameter. Not many Elm's left here in MI, but mine looks healthy. Always wondered about the working quality of Elm.

[rich pierce]

Elm is tough to plane because the grain interlocks and twists.  It has no figure either.  Plain, white wood unless you get a red elm with the beautiful heartwood.  I use planes and spokeshaves a lot in building guns and bows and it's dicey with elm.  I just roughed out a yoke from elm and it's tricky to work.  But hickory is hard to plane also as it has some kind of micro-interlocking grain.  Guess that's why it's so good for bows.


Back to staining sycamore- just try all the aniline dyes and AQF and vinegar and iron and show us how it comes out.  I know Acer has even stained poplar with vinegar and iron successfully.