Staining and sealing a loading block

[spenn0331]

I am a new member and new to flintlocks/muzzleloaders. I recently purchased a loading block (6-hole) from TOTW and plan on making my own 3-round block for hunting. I've seen on several forums and posts that some people mention patches drying out because the wood soaks it up. What would you recommend sealing it with? Likewise, I am looking to stain the maple to darken it a bit. What combo would you recommend? Thanks in advance for the help. Cheers!

[Joe R]

The 3 hole block is hickory and is stained with Lincoln shoe dressing (brown).

The 8 hole block is apple wood that has not been stained.

Both were heated and saturated with beeswax.

I think the beeswax will prevent your patch lube from soaking into the wood.

It definitely darkened the apple wood.

[spenn0331]

Thanks for the advice on the beeswax Joe. I was thinking of using either boiled linseed oil(or multiple coats thereof) or beeswax. Maybe I'll go with the beeswax. I have some neatsfoot oil as well. I wonder how a 1:1 of beeswax and neatsfoot would do.

[Pukka Bundook]

I just used deer tallow on mine, well rubbed in.




Dunno why pictures often invert themselves on this site!

[AZshot]

I haven't worked with maple much, but people seem to like aqua fortis to darken it.  Or Fiebings leather stain will work, I've used that.  Best used before any finishing. 

[Daryl]

My wooden loading blocks, over the years have been stained with circa-1830 filling oil stains and finished with true oil  2 or 3 coats. They do not absorb lube from patches.

[wattlebuster]

I make my blocks according to the caliber of the gun. There made from sugar maple an stained with aqua fortis an then soaked in heated beargrease. My 62s are two hole blocks that hang on my bag strap for faster reloads an I have six hole blocks in the bag itself. My 54 is the same an my 40s are 8 an 10 hole blocks being much smaller. Below is my 62 cal block. I keep em pretty simple

[B.Habermehl]

The last one I made for my .58 was a three hole block. Sacrilege, I just dunked in polyurethane, let it soak a bit pulled it out and wiped it off. BJH