Author Topic: Charring figured maple? (Read 9689 times)

Beaverman · « **on:** May 05, 2009, 09:22:54 AM »

I recently inspected a 28 cal flintlock that had a very high tight figured stock, the stock was rippled and you could feel the figure all the wat through the stock, my question, is the achieved by slightly charring the stock and them wire brushing the softer material off like done on pine?

James Rogers · « **Reply #1 on:** May 05, 2009, 11:58:13 AM »

I would say it's from a scraped surface creating a washboard effect?

Acer Saccharum · « **Reply #2 on:** May 05, 2009, 02:54:26 PM »

I have heard of folks using a burnisher, either a piece of polished horn, or a round metal rod, and go over the stock. The softer grain will press inwards, and the harder grain will stay up.

I have not done this, but if you have a scrap, try it out.

Over time, the curl will do this on its own, if you live long enough you will eventually see it.

rick landes · « **Reply #3 on:** May 05, 2009, 03:39:47 PM »

I burnished my last LR with an antler tine. It does exactly as noted, smooths the stock and gives the wood a nice well handled feel. I think it makes the rifle feel as a well cared for older arm that has seen a bit of service.
I do this after whiskering and before staining. One must be careful to not press too firmly and make sure the burnishing overlaps smoothly so as to not end up with a series of line flats.

David Rase · « **Reply #4 on:** May 05, 2009, 04:10:00 PM »

Jim,
If the stock is black then chances are the gun was charred with a flame and then steel wooled back to remove the soft charred wood thus giving the rippled effect. If the stock is not real black then it could of been scrapped. I have been witness the burning of several stocks to get that effect.
DMR

erdillonjr · « **Reply #5 on:** May 05, 2009, 04:33:15 PM »

Sounds like a hand scraped stock to me Ed

Z. Buck · « **Reply #6 on:** May 05, 2009, 05:16:09 PM »

scraping will definitely give you that effect, which might be more common than either burnishing or burning and rubbing back, but i could be wrong in my assumption about which is most common

Dphariss · « **Reply #7 on:** May 05, 2009, 05:59:14 PM »

Quote from: Beaverman on May 05, 2009, 09:22:54 AM

I recently inspected a 28 cal flintlock that had a very high tight figured stock, the stock was rippled and you could feel the figure all the wat through the stock, my question, is the achieved by slightly charring the stock and them wire brushing the softer material off like done on pine?

No. Its a curly maple gunstock, not a pine box being "antiqued".

It could be natural ripples in the grain caused by some shrinkage.
It is also likely it was burnished (boned was an old term) by the maker or some subsequent owner if its an old rifle. This will cause ripples if not carefully done and may even then since the curl has a different density than the rest of the stock.

Maple has been stained by charring by at least one big name modern gunstock finisher of the 50s-60s but its a really dumb way to "stain" maple and changes the character of the wood.

Dan

billd · « **Reply #8 on:** May 05, 2009, 06:53:45 PM »

I've gotten this effect by wet sanding the wood. The soft part swells more than the hard part. When it dries you can feel the ripples.

Bill

Beaverman · « **Reply #9 on:** May 05, 2009, 08:03:05 PM »

Quote from: David Rase on May 05, 2009, 04:10:00 PM

Dan,
If the stock is black then chances are the gun was charred with a flame and then steel wooled back to remove the soft charred wood thus giving the rippled effect. If the stock is not real black then it could of been scrapped. I have been witness the burning of several stocks to get that effect.
DMR

Dave, thats what Im thinking, this thing is very dark and its pretty rippled, was made by Mike Keller, think he an old local builder here in WA?

Dphariss · « **Reply #10 on:** May 05, 2009, 08:53:45 PM »

A black stock can also be the result of staining with acid that is too strong and/or not neutralized.
It does not automatically mean the stock was charred.
I just looked at a rifle that I KNOW was not charred and its pretty well rippled as well. Though its old enough now that the PO might have boned it I suspect it was just changes in the wood.
Wet sanding maple does not work well unless its unstained.
Dan

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #11 on:** May 05, 2009, 09:27:26 PM »

This rifle stock is not dark, but it definitely has seen no sandpaper. It's surface has been scraped and then stained and finished. It's a Bonewitz. I agree that Aqua Fortis that is too strong and/or not neutralized may have made that stock dark. It continued to react with the wood and in fact has charred it. Don't try it on your hand or you'll see what I mean.

louieparker · « **Reply #12 on:** May 05, 2009, 10:22:05 PM »

Taylor... That is a great looking Bonewitz !! Can you give us a few more shots

Louie Parker

David Rase · « **Reply #13 on:** May 05, 2009, 11:01:40 PM »

Quote from: Beaverman on May 05, 2009, 08:03:05 PM

Quote from: David Rase on May 05, 2009, 04:10:00 PM
Jim,
If the stock is black then chances are the gun was charred with a flame and then steel wooled back to remove the soft charred wood thus giving the rippled effect. If the stock is not real black then it could of been scrapped. I have been witness the burning of several stocks to get that effect.
DMR

Dave, thats what Im thinking, this thing is very dark and its pretty rippled, was made by Mike Keller, think he an old local builder here in WA?

Jim, Knowing you are from the northwest and that the gun was heavily rippled that if it was black I knew exactly what had happened to it. If it was made by Mike then it was definitely burned. I actually saw him finish a few stocks where he charred the wood, scotch brited it back, oiled the stock, found a few light spots, reflamed the stock, had the oil catch fire and put it out.

DMR

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #14 on:** May 05, 2009, 11:05:01 PM »

Isn't that a little hard on the carving?

David Rase · « **Reply #15 on:** May 05, 2009, 11:13:18 PM »

Quote from: D. Taylor Sapergia on May 05, 2009, 11:05:01 PM

Isn't that a little hard on the carving?

The heck with being a little hard on the carving, it was a little hard on my heart while watching. Now picture a pot of clorox boiling in the next room full of the hardware and you get the picture.
DMR

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #16 on:** May 05, 2009, 11:32:53 PM »

Lord have mercy!!

Dphariss · « **Reply #17 on:** May 06, 2009, 02:03:24 AM »

Hal Hartley was known for the scorch method of maple "staining".
I consider is a technique for someone who does not know any better.
But to each his own.
Dan

Pete G. · « **Reply #18 on:** May 06, 2009, 02:53:46 AM »

I have an iron mounted Jacob Fordney percussion side by combination gun that has the same effect. It is much too pronounced to be from a scraper. The stock is very closely curled and the "ripples" are probably close to 1/16" deep. I am thinking it is probably from the acid on the stock not being totally neutralized because it is from one end to the other and pretty consistient.

Beaverman · « **Reply #19 on:** May 06, 2009, 03:28:51 AM »

Dave, kinda what i figured, if your going to be at Paul Bunyan, so will the rifle, Id like for you to look at it if your going, Jim

David Rase · « **Reply #20 on:** May 06, 2009, 03:50:21 AM »

Quote from: Beaverman on May 06, 2009, 03:28:51 AM

Dave, kinda what i figured, if your going to be at Paul Bunyan, so will the rifle, Id like for you to look at it if your going, Jim

I'll be there. I'll be the guy with the Tulle.

DMR

ChipK · « **Reply #21 on:** May 06, 2009, 05:10:35 AM »

I saw a Virgina rifle that Mike used the scored process on. It makes for an interesting finish to say the least and not unattractive.

I am the Booshway at Paul Bunyan this year so please be sure to stop by and show it off. I always have liked Mike's work.

Beaverman · « **Reply #22 on:** May 06, 2009, 07:51:48 AM »

Ill be in traders row Chip

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Author Topic: Charring figured maple? (Read 9689 times)

erdillonjr

billd

ChipK