LMF Stain in lieu of Varnish for Lehigh?

[RockLock92]

Hello all,

The Lehigh rifle is finally getting close to the point where I need to figure out what the plan is for the wood finishing. I know the violin varnish is the historically correct option, but the madder lake pigment is kinda pricey at $90 with way more of the stuff than I would ever need... Laurel Monutain Forge has a “Cherry” colored stain listed on their website that they say duplicates the color of lehighs... my question is does anyone have experience with this stain? If so does it actually get close to an appropriate color? Do you still use aqua fortis underneath it like on the varnish? Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Brad

[M. E. Pering]

Some people like stains... I understand the attraction, since it can make a piece of wood look better.  Personally, I try and avoid them.  AF usually is enough to do the job for me.  If I wanted a stain, I would go pick my black raspberries and turn them into that instead of jelly.

Matt

[rich pierce]

Brad, you might put up an ad to see if someone would sell you a smidgeon of the madder.

If the cherry stain is what I recall it looked too gaudy to me. Neon.

[BarryE]

I am also trying to come up with a red color something like the Altland family used often. My stock has much more curl than the original, and I believe that a sort of violin type finish was used by them also. Instead,  I made a batch of vinegaroon that does a great job of darkening the curl and then used a wash of old Birchwood Casey Colonial Red (no longer available) over that after scrubbing the vinegaroon back.  Aqua Fortis would do much the same thing to bring out the curl, I believe, and LMF  Maple was also close to this color in my testing.  I used very strong black tea for tannic acid as a base coat to all. You'll need to test this on your scraps or in the barrel channel as all wood stains differently.

[RichG]

I used a Lehigh red stain on a plain gun and yes it's a little red. I mixed the stain with true oil and rubbed on after sealing stock. I was looking for a varnish look and not an in the wood finish. Maybe a little nut brown and Lehigh red mixed? Endless possibilities.

[flehto]

Early on I used the LMF cherry stain and was shocked at its intensity.....a  really bright red. Should have diluted it a lot more than I did, After a lot of blotting w/  alcohol  saturated rags, it lightened up somewhat  and then some brown stain was applied . LMF cherry stain is so  "stubborn" in trying to reduce the vivid red, that I never used it again.  The pic below is that LR after way too many hrs trying to "civilize" the over powering  red. ....it was my first attempt at building a Bucks County LR.

[Scota4570]

I use stain after AF.  I got one of each LMF.  I dilute them with acetone or alcohol then  mix and match for for each piece of wood.  I also may use  lacquer stain diluted with lacquer thinner and then add about 10% lacquer as a first sealer coat. At that point I know what the final result will look like.   Everything but the AF will mostly come off with solvent for a do over if needed.  I then finish with the actual top coat.   IT depends on the stock on what I end up doing to make the most of it.

[ron w]

not only does all wood stain differently but the finish of the wood's surface will affect how the wood takes the stain as well. make sure your test piece is as smoothly finished as your stock is and that it is finished with about the same procedure.   the condition of your sand paper can produce very different surfaces.  one good reason to use scrapers is to guarantee the surface is consistent throughout the stocks surface. wood that is sanded with fresh paper will be different than wood sanded with half worn out paper and that will affect how the wood takes stain. 

[Davemuzz]

Well, FWIW here's a pic of my Leman which I first applied Aquafortis (then heat of course)....then an application of Chambers Antique wood stain, and then several coatings of Chambers Stock Finish.

 

[RockLock92]

Brad, you might put up an ad to see if someone would sell you a smidgeon of the madder.

If the cherry stain is what I recall it looked too gaudy to me. Neon.

Thanks I think I’ll give that a shot!