Curly Maple stock Finish

[dkhunt14]

Yep, all the curly maple that I have had has been soft maple. There is hard maple, but seems to me it would be pretty heavy for a stock? I have a 3" benchrest stock here I made from soft curly maple, Its about 4 pounds as it is. I dont see hard maple as very useful in making stocks. Maybe some use it, but thats got to be a heavy stock. Staining soft woods like maple or pine makes them blotchy. Wood dye is the key.
View attachment 1006271

Nice gun, but I only see one thing wrong. THE HANDLE IS ON THE WRONG SIDE. Lol Matt

 

[tinkerer]

You want the curl highlited? Finish in spray polyurethane only.

You want the stock to glow, use Tung Oil to fill the pores, and cover in polyurethane after its filled.

You want tiger stripes, a quick swipe with thinned walnut stain in tung oil. Than follow above for final finish.

Personally, I prefer straight poly, makes the stripes shimmer and hard as a rock.

Larry
Tinkerer

 

[jdh47]

I think Alvin Linden used a Sugi finish on some of the maple stocks. It is done with running a torch over the stock taking care not to dwell on any place too long, especially the sharp corners. It accentuates the grain structure. Hal Hartley worked with maple all his career and was a master at it.

Hartley, O'Connor and Monty Kennedy have written about different tratments for Maple. It's close pores do not take stain well so it presents a challenge.

Joe

 

[Intheshop]

Nice stuff guys...google images for Paul Reed Smith guitars....just sayin.

Then do images on Sitka recurves(traditional archery bows).

 

[JRS]

Nice stuff guys...google images for Paul Reed Smith guitars....just sayin.

Then do images on Sitka recurves(traditional archery bows).

And PRS uses stains on those high dollar tops They also know how to apply stain

 

[dkhunt14]

And PRS uses stains on those high dollar tops They also know how to apply stain

I looked him up and couldn't find want he uses. I imagine from seeing the pics of his work, he is using Keda powder dies and mixing. According to the Starbursts and colors I saw. If using Mixed dyes, let soak in some and use multiple coats. It takes that to get into the harder areas of the wood. Look up Keda Dyes on you tube. Lots of maple being stained including guitars. Matt

 

[JRS]

I looked him up and couldn't find want he uses. I imagine from seeing the pics of his work, he is using Keda powder dies and mixing. According to the Starbursts and colors I saw. If using Mixed dyes, let soak in some and use multiple coats. It takes that to get into the harder areas of the wood. Look up Keda Dyes on you tube. Lots of maple being stained including guitars. Matt

PRS produces most of it's own stains, and the stains are applied with a rag. The process takes place at what PRS refers to as the "stain bench". They are not using dyes.

Edit: Tour their facility and watch the process with your own eyes. The process is very time consuming. Stain & Grainfill, Basecoat Spray & Sanding, Prep, Topcoat Spray, Buff & Turnaround.

 

[Heavy barrel]

Here is a stock I just made. Curly Maple with tung oil & tru oil finish.

 

[Sundown]

Heavy Barrel
Nice job on the stock. Is your mix 50-50 and no stain? This is the finish I'm looking for. Great finish!!
Sundown

 

[Heavy barrel]

I did 3 coats of tung oil with very light sanding between coats, then switched to tru-oil. Probably 8 or 9 coats of tru-oil. I was going to try to warm it up a bit with some stain or dye but I didn't want to mess it up. This is the 2nd stock I've done. Maybe I'll try on the next one.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

PRS produces most of it's own stains, and the stains are applied with a rag. The process takes place at what PRS refers to as the "stain bench". They are not using dyes.

Edit: Tour their facility and watch the process with your own eyes. The process is very time consuming. Stain & Grainfill, Basecoat Spray & Sanding, Prep, Topcoat Spray, Buff & Turnaround.

I'm an hour north of Nashville. I bet I can find a nice geetar closer than Maryland.

 

[Gary in MD]

Richard Franklin did mine.

 

[Fast14riot]

Look up auquafortis. This is the traditional method for maple. That or "vinegaroon" made from acetic acid and steel wool, use heat to make colors pop. Practice on scrap first.