Feathering in wood stock
- Thread starter badbrass
- Start date
Not every stain will cover the grain. A thin coat of light stain may enhance the grain instead (for example on walnut). Another option is naturally coloured oil, like Osmo or Saicos. These companies offer a variety of colours and you can choose the color you like. On top of it, you can apply a hardwax oil or a bee wax. Tung oil is good but there are better and easier options to use nowadays. I would not stain or coloured your stock. It's beautiful as is, just oil it.
I recommend not to apply too many coats. The oil can just crystalize on the surface if the wood doesn't absorb it and it will look shiny and unnatural. Let the wood take as much as needed. Apply first coat, let it sit for a while, then rub with a cloth. Let it dry then apply a second coat and polish. I apply hardwax oil twice a year even if I don't use a firearm. It helps to moisturize and protect the wood. Good luck!
I recommend not to apply too many coats. The oil can just crystalize on the surface if the wood doesn't absorb it and it will look shiny and unnatural. Let the wood take as much as needed. Apply first coat, let it sit for a while, then rub with a cloth. Let it dry then apply a second coat and polish. I apply hardwax oil twice a year even if I don't use a firearm. It helps to moisturize and protect the wood. Good luck!
I've tried Teak Oil from Star Brite on a few stocks in the last couple years. Really soaks into the wood and after a few coats of that I've done a "sand in" finish with tru oil thinned a bit as I find it gets tacky too quickly otherwise. Larry Potterfield sand in finish YouTube...followed that and turns out great and feels even better
David Henry
CGN Regular
- Location
- West of the big road
Feathering or feather crotch figure mostly encountered in the butt stock portion of a high end stock blank is different than fiddle back grain structure, which is what you have pictured. Not trying to be a stickler for detail here but your stock is a very nice example of fiddle back from the fore end tip right through to the heel of the stock. And yes you could get away with a dark stain which should then be rubbed down to expose the end versus the side grain of each individual wave of the fiddle back, one absorbing the stain and one resisting it. Looking forward to seeing the finished product. Regards, David.
