Staining ash

[Lori Ann]

Hello,I am in process of building a flintlock turkey gun with an ash stock. The project is getting close to finishing the wood. Last night I tried some aquafortis even with 2 coats I didn’t love it. After that I tried Laurel Mt stain in nut brown. I really liked the way it brought out the curl but it is too red. If anyone has suggestions or pictures of finished ash stocks I would love to see them.
Please let me know turkey is getting close.
Thanks, Gary

[rich pierce]

No experience with staining ash but with the laurel mountain stains you can pull most of it out with denatured alcohol if you don’t like it or want it lighter. 

[smallpatch]

Here's one I did a while back using AF and honey maple.

[Lori Ann]

That looks great. How many coats of AF did you use and also what did you finish it with.
Thanks

[sdilts]

This is one I did with LMF Lancaster Maple stain and finished with Permalyn sealer.


This was spray painted black then rubbed down and stained with LMF walnut stain and finished with Chambers oil finish.

[smallpatch]

One coat of AF, not sure how many of honey maple,  a little added patina for the aging process, then Chambers oil and spar varnish.

[Daryl]

Did you blush it, Gary?

[Dale Halterman]

I did a curly ash stock a few years ago with a trick I learned from Keith Castile  at Dixon's.

First, stain the stock with walnut stain. Then Use steel wool to remove most of the stain, leaving just enough to highlight the grain.

Next stain the stock again with a lighter stain, I think I used LMF honey maple. Then apply your finish.

That little bit of brown stain really makes a difference.

Dale H

[Smokey Plainsman]

A stock of ash, well curled, is as beautiful as any flame tiger maple!

[Lori Ann]

I don’t know what blushing is can you please explain it to me
Thanks, Gary

[Daryl]

After applying aquafortis (AF), heat is applied using a stove top or torch, or heat gun, which darkens the stained wood & accentuates the grain structure than absorbed the AF.

[smallpatch]

AF MUST BE HEATED to blush the color from gray/green to the nice amber color that is so desirable.

[Lori Ann]

I didn’t realize that heating the AF was blushing, I did do that. Thanks for all the input, I think I know what I want to do now. Thanks again, Gary

[tnhillbilly]

This link is for a red tinted finish.  The pictures are gone but it has the recipe.

Kibler Rifle Kit in Ash
https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=43811.0 

[rennikselum]

Here are a couple photos from referenced link that are not showing.

I tried the AF route on a piece of scrap but could not get the look I wanted. The darkening of the open grain and the combination of LMS with bone black and Chambers finish worked out well.





Jeff