Hey guy’s was wondering when staining with Iron Nitrate do you also go into the Patchbox cavity and underneath the sliding cover? I have not Had the pleasure of handling original rifles. I could only go by pictures and books that I have. Some look pretty dark in there. But that could be just from age. I know it’s not recommended to use on the other inlets. Also if I am to understand correctly, after the first coat of the iron nitrate and heating process., If I am not happy with the darkness of The first coat, I can re-coat with iron nitrate again and then heat?
Thanks
Anthony
I only stain visible areas. You can recoat and it may darken it more. But wood is wood and it tends to come out the way IT wants. If you use a natural oil finish it will darken it a little more over a week or two.
The bottom rifle is 2 coats with a a rottenstone rub back looks darker here than it is in real life.
Upper rifle is one coat with less rubbing. But its two different pieces of wood and the lighter one has some pretty dark areas that pretty much obscured the curl and I did rub these areas out pretty aggressively and it helped a little. Finish is a shop made linseed oil varnish.
Neither rifle is shown in it actual color. I have another I did a few years back that is much redder. Same stain. Though the bottom rifle here was stained with a batch that is, I think, a little stronger than the first coat but???
Here is the bottom rifle in natural light out on the deck
