Filler in/on walnut?

[Roger Fisher]

What do most of you do with walnut - scrape smooth - sand smooth - raise any grain - use filler or use 'numerous coats/rubbings of ol tyme leaded boiled linseed oil(if you have any)

[Ken G]

Roger,
On my last gun I used some of Jim Chamber's black grain filler.  The first time I had tried it and I'm hooked. 
Wiskered twice, sanded, filled grain, selective staining, multiple coats of low gloss tung oil to finish.


Ken

[Stophel]

I just fill the grain with boiled thick linseed oil.  If you sand, the sanding dust will work.

[PIKELAKE]

The last two walnut stocks that I dealt with, I used the filler that Barbie sells. The first stock, I used only one coat. When it was all said and done, I found that on the second stock that a second coat gave me a better job. Maybe I removed too much the first time around. I have been known to be heavy handed at times. Bottom line is that I like it, but don't use BLO so can't coment on that method.

[volatpluvia]

I agree with Stophel,  walnut doesn't need to have it's grain filled.  Just put multiple coats of finish on and sand in between.  I like the effect of the open grain filled naturally with finish.
volatpluvia

[billd]

I ordered Chambers' filler today. I'm going to try it on ash. I'll let you know in a few weeks.

Bill

[Tim Crosby]

 Have you tried sanding (I start with 600) while the oil is wet?  The dust mixes with the oil creating a slurry that acts as a filler. Wipe down after sanding let dry, fine sand, 600 or better, repeat. It takes quite a few rounds but works well. last coat lightly sand with 1200 or 1500, put a spot of oil on the palm of you hand and rub it into the wood until it is warm, a small area at a time.
 
Tim C.  

PS: Dang that is a good lookin' rifle Ken.

[J. Talbert]

I have used both wet sanding with finish to fill grain and also Behlen's paste filler.
Here are some pictures of English walnut filled with the paste filler.




I like the paste filler.  Much easier in my opinion

Jeff

PS: Engraving by Ron Ehlert... Not me

[Roger Fisher]

Thanks for the responses, I may very well go with Jim's black filler, since I like to leave the low spots dark and rub out the wear areas.  Avoids that bland boring look IMHO only!

I'm glad I have you guys to depend on!

[jerrywh]

That's a real nice job on that gun all the way around. Congratulations.

[Collector]

Ken,  THAT is a great looking finish!  Thanks for sharing that 'detail' with us.

[B Shipman]

Great job Jeff and Ken.

I think it all depends on what you're doing. Ken's rifle would look plastic if the grain were perfectly filled .  An English rifle like Jeff's would look poorly finished if it were not.

Black in the pores just looks good. I've not used the Chambers stuff but it sounds good. What I've done is to first seal with Permalyn sealer. Then paint on Rusoleum black. Take it back to the wood and finish with a coat of sealer for an open finish or use the Permayn finish and build up enough coats to completel;y fill the grain for a perfect glassy English finish.

[Ken G]

Bill,
That's a very good point.  I was only trying to accent the grain not really fill it.  I have made one gun with a glass finish and I hated it.  Stripped everything off and started over.  It just didn't look right on a gun with forged hardware.
Cheers,
Ken

[Dphariss]

Fillers are largely a waste of time in my experience.
Thickened boiled oil works best. Fills quick and does not pull out.

Dan

[Mike Brooks]

Flat black rustoleum spray paint.

[Trkdriver99]

I sure wish I had the patience and talent to build one of those nice looking walnut stocks. I got a piece of walnut but no talent.

Guys those sure look good. I think I like the look of the rustoleum on Mike's musket.

Ronnie

[Dphariss]

The extra work, weird finishes people go to to fill American walnut never ceases to amaze.
I used to do things like this too. But Mad Monk saved me...
Dan

[fm tim]

Stephen Dodd Hughes, a custom maker who wrote the article on sanding muzzleloader maple stocks in "Gunsmithing Tips & Projects" uses a paste of rottenstone and Permalyn filler rubbed into the walnut pores using a piece of cloth, then wet sanded off (this is designed for walnut, and does not work is there is complicated carving).  This rubbing in then wet sanding off is done until the pores are filled and all remaining filler is removed from the surface. It has a strange, grey color after the sanding, but the final coat of Permalyn produces a fine, smooth finish.