So whats the big secret? Making birch stocks "pop"

[canes7]

I've read about 10 million posts over the last few days and am no closer to deciding how to refinish birch stocks in such a way out bring out the "flame" or "striping" or whatever you want to call it.

Anyone have tried and true methods?

Thanks..

[Orlando]

Either the flame is there or it isnt. If its there it will pop on its own.
IMO birch stocks are the hardest to work with and make look good. Commercial birch, forget it, can be done but its a total pain in the @@@ and not worth the trouble.
USGI birch is workable but birch doesnt always take stain well . I dont even have any tips for youits just trial and error and alot of luck.
Just my opinion, I'm sure others will vary

[timshufflin]

I've not had much luck with birch except to take a naturally nice looking birch stock and putting BLO or Tung on it. I suppose Danish oil would look good too.

[ttwn0324]

AQUAFORTIS Reagent

http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/1025/1/AQUAFORT-2

[canes7]

AQUAFORTIS Reagent

http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/1025/1/AQUAFORT-2

Do you have any pics of how it looks with birch? All their pics are of maple.

[Orlando]

You working on a surplus birch stock or a commercial birch stock?

[Punch The Clown]

1-Unbolt action from stock
2-Jack up action
3-Slide birch stock out from under action.
4-Slide walnut stock under action
5-Lower action into new stock
6-Re-install fastenings
7-Enjoy!

[jak]

Orlando is correct. Either the tiger striping is there or it isn't. When I got mt RRAD stock, it was so dark and dirty
I could not see any striping.
When I cleaned it, you could very faintly see some striping. At that point I put the stock in the corner because
I had other things to do.
About two months later I looked at the stock, the striping had darken on its own. I don't understand why it happened but it did.
I put on 2 coats of Chestnut Ridge and 2 coats of BLO. When everything was dry and the stock color got to a shade
I liked I put on a coat of Birchwood Casey Tru-oil to seal it.

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj40/jkunig/100_0992.jpg (http://s268.photobucket.com/user/jkunig/media/100_0992.jpg.html)

[ttwn0324]

Do you have any pics of how it looks with birch? All their pics are of maple.

Birch or maple it's the same. Use it on walnut and it'll turn black

[canes7]

You working on a surplus birch stock or a commercial birch stock?


Surplus... about a dozen mixed walnut and birch. I haven't seen 'em yet, they are M14 and Garand stocks from a guy near Toledo. I'll know more in a couple weeks.

[Orlando]

OK, Like I said before the flames will only pop if they are there, not all birch is flamed. Most of it is very plain
If you completly strip a birch stock sometimes the wood is very bland, light and IMO ugly. This is where it can get trickey,when you try and stain birch it can come out very blotchey, also some birch will just not take stain, especially oil based. Alcohol based is sometimes the only choice. Then birch when stained will sometimes come out purple looking.
See why I hate birch??
I have had sucess staining birch , once I stripped and stained,refinished a stock three times before it came out right. Only reason I did it was because it had a perfect DOD
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f197/Garandlover/Stocks/Picture529.jpg (http://s47.photobucket.com/user/Garandlover/media/Stocks/Picture529.jpg.html)
The ONLY time I salvage a birch stock is when it has very tight lockup and is in perfect condition, otherwise I dont mess with them
This is just my experience, someone else may tell you different. If you learn any secrets please let me know

[canes7]

I'll inventory what the guy has when I get up that way in a few weeks. I'll take all this into account when making the deal..

Thanks..

[ttwn0324]

Alcohol based aniline dye stain, then oil stain, followed by lin-speed is another way. You may have better luck finding the info you need looking up finishing mos nagant stock. You'll see plenty examples of purple stocks with them.

[Orlando]

Surplus... about a dozen mixed walnut and birch. I haven't seen 'em yet, they are M14 and Garand stocks from a guy near Toledo. I'll know more in a couple weeks.

Hey, dont be sneakin up here getin any deals in my neighborhood :)

[canes7]

Hey, dont be sneakin up here getin any deals in my neighborhood :)

There may be more there than I can handle. If that's the case I'll make an introduction. It may all be crap too!

[cuppednlocked]

Canes,

That aquafortis is some cool shit. I am going to work with some and a curly maple tomahawk handle.

Here is a link to what it can do: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/915734-Virtual-BBQ-Camp-Axe-Tomahawk-WIP/page2?highlight=tomahawk+wip

Start at post #24.

I also have some pine tar Radionicist sent me for the "Finn" blonde look. I like the contrast between the manganese park and blond wood.

[canes7]

I'll give Aquafortis a try. It may end up that I have plenty of practice material.

[canes7]

This "find" ended up being a bust. Just a pile of broken crap that wasn't even Garand/M14 related. Somehow I think someone beat me to the punch.... oh well.

[cuppednlocked]

That sucks!