Inletting compound

[Uncle Alvah]

This is my first build. As far as using something on the metal to check for fit, I avoided Jerrod's Inletting Black because several people said it was pretty messy. So, acting on some other advice, I decided to try lipstick. I'm thinking that was a big mistake because try as I might, its seems to be pretty messy in its own right. I'm concerned about it leaving a permanent stain on the wood. 
What can I use to clean the excess off before continuing?
 I was thinking maybe scraping it gently with a blade.
 What is used to clean up after the Jerrod's product?

[smallpatch]

Never tried lipstick, but I'd have the same fears.  Might try lacquer thinner. 
I started using soot from an oil lamp years ago, and see no reason to change.  Washes, or wipes right off.  It'
 Has no oil in it, so no penetration. Any residue wil come off with normal scraping.

[alyce-james]

Uncle Alvah; Sir, started with lamp soot in 1975, still using. No need to change. AJ.

[Mike Brooks]

You're using too much lipstick, in fact it looks like there's big blobs of it on the breech face. Lipstick is no different than Jarrod's, you have to use as little as possible.If you use as much as you are you're going to get false readings and have a very gappy inlet, if that's what you want don't use anything at all, you'll get the same results. When I inlet there is very little if any mess at all, on me or the gun.

[Cory Joe Stewart]

Mr. Brooks is right,  As always when you apply lipstick, start light and then build up to the color you want.  The same is true with eye shadow. 

I use candle soot.  I tried lipstick one time and it was the messiest stuff, it is also pretty expensive and did not go along way.  Especially when hot and humid.  Also, transfer paper from an office supply can be cut in strips and use for barrel inletting. 

Cory Joe Stewart

[Joe S.]

A little goes along way.........I would try some scraping to see if you can get the bulk of it off.My worries about any types of solvents would be taking the lipstick deeper into the wood.I used it on/my build but real small amounts and after I had transfer I just moved more around on the piece rather than apply more to it.The small amounts that did make it on to the stock scraped/sanded away with no stain.Perhaps somebody that tried a clean up with thinner or solvent will chime in and let us know.

[jerrywh]

 This is another case of accepting bad advise on forums.  Lipstick probably has a petroleum base since it more than likely a wax of some type.  therefore mineral spirits would be my choice. You don't want to use something that will make it penetrate the wood any more if possible. When using any type of marker for inletting it is used very sparingly.  John Bivens was one of the best builders ever and I was told that he just used linseed oil. I use printers ink mixed with oil. Smoke probably the best  but I worry too much about fire in my shop. 

[45-110]

Jerrods works fine and is a standard of stock making, put it on lightly and thinly, using a q tip. soot from a oil lamp or candle works fine too, again lightly. i personally would not bring prussian blue into contact with word....metal only.
best
kw

[45-110]

meant to say "wood" in last post:
i personally would not bring prussian blue into contact with word....metal only.

[n stephenson]

I`ve used different things over the years , I like soot the best but, rather than having to light an oil lamp or worse yet leave one burning in the shop, I use the cheap adjustable flame lighters . When the flame is up high it will soot a part perfectly , a very light coat. You don`t have to hold it under the part long at all ,not like your trying to cook it , just run it under it . I`ve used these for about 15 years and they`re  cheap 5 in a pack for a dollar. I use an oil lamp for something big like a barrel ,but a buttplate can easily be done with a lighter. The most common mistake is overdoing whatever your using , these don`t do that.   Nate

[J. Talbert]

Anywhere you still have excess wood I wood try to scrape away as much of the lipstick as possible before applying a solvent.
My fear would be that any kind of solvent might take the color deeper into the wood.

Good luck,
Jeff

[Hungry Horse]

Don't use lacquer thinner to remove all that goop, it will only thin it and make it penetrate into the wood. The nature of all these products that they stay on the surface. I use Jarrow's and find it works fine. Prussian blue travels farther and contaminates more than anything I've tried. But, it looks like lipstick could be even worse. Remember less is more.

  Hungry Horse

[Tim Ault]

I went with the lipstick once and went back to using either candle soot or my favorite ,soot from a small piece of burning masking tape . Used to use it to smoke the front sight blade in my rifle competition shooting days . Lays down a nice black layer

[oldtravler61]

 Always use candle soot. It has worked for over a century or two. Did start using lighters a year ago thanks to Nate. They work real well. Oldtravler

[PPatch]

Manually remove as much of that lipstick as possible then go over those areas with mineral spirits. With lipstick it is best to use a brush to transfer the gunk to the metal, a little bit will do. I use an oil lamp to darken parts for inletting, I never walk away from the lamp when it is burning, Once finished with the coating I blow it out and only then proceed with the inletting process.

Keep track of your depth, and check often that you're not going too deep, any darkening medium will continue to print long past the point you should have stopped.

By the way, it looks like you are getting to the point where you will have to bend that tang to conform to the curve of the wrist.

Be Slow, but Sure.

Cheers

dave

[Eric Smith]

Candle soot or lamp soot. Takes a little getting use to, but can't be beat. Just don't set the shop on fire.

[Mark Elliott]

I have a candle on my bench for sooting, but I hardly ever use it any more.   I get those big Magnum permanent markers to use as a marking compound.   It takes more pressure to transfer than soot, but it is relatively clean.   As long as you let it dry on the metal before handling,  you don't get it all over yourself or the stock.   It just goes where it is supposed to go.  You clean it off the metal with denatured alcohol when you are done.

[WestBranchSusquehanna]

Funny you asked this, I just asked last month and got a lot of replies.  However, I was using a inletting black that I picked up years ago at Dixons.  My problem is even though I was careful, somehow I would always manage to smear the stuff on my fingers and then it seemed to go everywhere.  No solvent seemed to clean it up.
Solution:  Be more careful, don't use too much and when the part is fitted, just wash it using Dove Dishwashing soap!  Does that stuff really work well!

[Joe S.]

I think its a case of using what your comfortable with.To be honest I tried every method mentioned here.It was my first build and being a training experiance as well,felt right to try em all.Mark,the marker was probably my second choice,found candle soot worked but a pain to keep going back and forth.Did find lipstick worked well,you don't need much same as Prussian blue.The thing I found that worked well with lipstick was after figuring out the proper amount you just moved it around on the piece being inlet.Like everybody said,you don't need much,don't hurt to have a rag handy to wipe your hands clean if you dont get the proper amount part figured out on the first take

[SingleMalt]

Like others, I started with candle soot and haven't changed. 

[Hungry Horse]

I tend to have a shop organized along the lines of Hershel Houses shop. That being said one would have to have a death wish to allow a burning candle, or an oil lamp, in there with all the sawdust, steel wool, flammable finishes, and gun powder. That why I use Jarrow's.

  Hungry Horse

[t.caster]

I'm not comfortable with a candle around my dusty bench or the hassle of burning my fingers on a lighter. But that's just me, obviously.
I've used a dark blue pencil (drafting supplies) for inletting for many years, especially on cast butt pls, trigger guards, side plates, lock plates, etc. I also use an ink marker sometimes and I still use Jarrow's black on barrels and internal lock parts.

[P.W.Berkuta]

My reply is not directed at anyone person so please don't pout or get hurt feelings - here goes. If you keep such an unruly work area as to be cautious of having a lit flame near then you should do some serious house keeping. Have you ever thought of extinguishing the flame after each time you are done using it? As a safety precaution all shops should have a FIRE EXTINGUISHER CLOSE AT HAND! You all talk about soldering, burning in of wedge keys, joining metals together with heat and so forth. How do you accomplish these task? Are you so clumsy, forgetful, absent minded that you can't trust yourself with fire? If so I do suggest that you find another hobby - maybe needlework but please do watch out for that pointed needle . Again this is just my GENERAL statement on this subject and not directed at anyone person so don't get your hackles up .

[smallpatch]

Paul,
Couldn't agree more.  My shop is a spare bedroom in my house.  SHE WHO MUST BE OBEYED, requires me to keep it SOMEWHAT presentable.

[SingleMalt]

My reply is not directed at anyone person so please don't pout or get hurt feelings - here goes. If you keep such an unruly work area as to be cautious of having a lit flame near then you should do some serious house keeping. Have you ever thought of extinguishing the flame after each time you are done using it? As a safety precaution all shops should have a FIRE EXTINGUISHER CLOSE AT HAND! You all talk about soldering, burning in of wedge keys, joining metals together with heat and so forth. How do you accomplish these task? Are you so clumsy, forgetful, absent minded that you can't trust yourself with fire? If so I do suggest that you find another hobby - maybe needlework but please do watch out for that pointed needle . Again this is just my GENERAL statement on this subject and not directed at anyone person so don't get your hackles up .

OK, sure.  Then, SWMBO will have me cleaning up after myself in the house too.  It'll never stop, either!