Something to ask of you experts....

[pintail_drake2004]

Hello gents, I finished my lancaster rifle in the middle of last year. I recently started on an identical rifle for my twin brother, but he would like to have a different stain. There are many threads on gun building, but how bout a "stain-a-long" or two to help this newbe out? Something that really accents the curl in the maple. You gents make some beautiful works art-stuff that I only hope to achieve one day.

Thank you
Jordan.

[jwh1947]

If you decide on a base...I like alcohol...and go to an art supply store, they can  mix any color you want.  Leather dyes have also been blended and used by some of the best names in the business.

While strong acids and heat are recommended by many, there are so many good products on the market today that you don't need to bother with them.  If you do, keep well vented and don't inhale any fumes when burning or otherwise.  Unforgiving to the respiratory tract.

This is just for coloration; then you need to consider the myriad of finishing possibilities.

[Pete G.]

I have used the Laural Mountain stains with complete sucess, but have evolved into using good old Aqua Fortis. The commercially available stuff does a fantastic job and works well when heated with a heat gun avaiable from Lowe's. Although the stains are good and you have some control over the color, Aqua fortis seems to leave the pattern much more "alive" than any stain I have tried. The color will depend on the wood, so if you are going for a particular color you might want to stay with stain, but if you want to get a really authentic look, go with AF.