Yellow base stain to highlight curl

[Terry Reynolds]

Getting close to finishing a maple stock for a squirrel rifle I've been working on for awhile. The stock has a small amount of curl, nothing exciting, but I do want to try and pull/highlight as much as possible of that curl. I was thinking of using a yellow base stain, sanded back, then a coat of honey maple sanded back and then a coat or two of walnut stain cut 50%.

Wanted to know if anyone uses yellow stain to help highlight curl. Thanks

[Ed Wenger]

I’ve used amber trans tint dye to accentuate golden undertones, which tends to contrast the curl somewhat.  If you haven’t stained the stock yet, I would suggest using tannic to highlight curl, although that’s typically done in conjunction with iron nitrate stain.


         Ed

[Stoner creek]

I do. The product is called Trans-Tint. I use what’s called Honey Amber. I mix one part tint to 4 parts water. You can use denatured alcohol instead of water also. This stuff can be found at Woodcraft, on eBay and most likely, Amazon. It’s a little pricey but one bottle will do several stocks. I like the gold undertones that it gives curly wood.

[Jim Chambers]

I use yellow food coloring to whisker the stock.  That will quickly show areas that need additional sanding as well as raising the whiskers.

[Tim Crosby]

FWIW Old test piece, not RIT dye but Lemon Yellow stain water powder by Lockwood. Sanded back, stained with Mahogany rubbed back, a couple coats of Danish Oil rubbed back and waxed.

  Tim C.

[Mike Brooks]

I use canary yellow as a base when I'm using aniline  stains. Unless I'm doing a lehigh, then I use screamin orange as a base.

[bob in the woods]

What Jim Chambers said.  Yellow food colouring as a wash.

[smallpatch]

Just remember, whatever you use,  it won’t bring out figure that isn’t there..
To me, tannic acid wash, then Ferric Nitrate will do the best job.

[RichG]

I've used the homer dangler orange tint and it really makes the grain pop. looks scary when applied 

[Marcruger]

Dane, it's a pity that you cannot afford to use nice wood for your builds.   ;-)   

[BOB HILL]

Bob, I think the reference that Jim made to yellow food coloring was a wash to aid in final sanding of a stock, not as a stock stain. It helps to show any rough places or tool marks.
Bob

[A.Merrill]

   I just went through this. I stained the stock twice with Aquafortis and twice used tannic acid, I still had a stock with light brown curl and honey gold undertones.  I was told by a member to try Homer Dengler red/brown. I got some and in a separate jar I thined it with denatured alcohol, WoW  the curl turned very dark and I got the red undertones I was looking for.    Al

[Terry Reynolds]

Thanks for all the really good suggestions, I have an old cracked stock I'll be "speer'menten" on. Will post pics of  the finished product "good or bad" in a couple weeks.

Thanks again.

[bob in the woods]

Yes, the yellow food colouring wash does aid in bringing out any scratches that I might have missed, but It still is there as I don't sand the complete surface ...only where I see scratches. Then I'll put more wash on etc.  It remains as a base , then I use wrought iron dissolved in 10% vinegar for the main stain