Stock staining/tinting for "catpaw" figuring

[Beebeetee]

Just wanted to get a few recommendations on how you would best stain or tint a maple stock with "catpaw" figuring. I picked this stock up recently as a spur of the moment purchase without thinking how to make it authentically pleasing. Any recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Just wanted to get a few recommendations on how you would best stain or tint a maple stock with "catpaw" figuring. I picked this stock up recently as a spur of the moment purchase without thinking how to make it authentically pleasing. Any recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

Looks like a good candidate for root beer candy. @Bc'z What do you think?

 

[p-man]

As I understand your question, you're wishing to "de-emphasize" the birdseye figure in the wood; to me the only practical remedy is make the overall background shade much darker to decrease the contrast of the figure. To do this I would suggest some sort of water or alcohol-based dye and NOT a filler or pigment-based stain - the reason being the dye will penetrate more deeply and more importantly with maple, more uniformly. The pigment particles in most stains will only penetrate so far and then begin to bill up, limit, or actually block additional application. Trans-Tint is a common dye that I've used and just wish it had been around 30-years ago when I was still heavily involved with wood stocks.

 

[Beebeetee]

I'm not sure if de-emphasizing the catpaw figure is set in stone for me. Just not sure what to do with them or whether to go the opposite way and emphasize them. As you can tell, I am a little confused with what would look best.

The root beer candy coat may look nice...I've seen some of bc'z root beer and am wholly impressed.

Thanks for the input.

 

[Bc'z]

Looks like a good candidate for root beer candy. @Bc'z What do you think?

I'm not sure if de-emphasizing the catpaw figure is set in stone for me. Just not sure what to do with them or whether to go the opposite way and emphasize them. As you can tell, I am a little confused with what would look best.

The root beer candy coat may look nice...I've seen some of bc'z root beer and am wholly impressed.

Thanks for the input.

As I understand your question, you're wishing to "de-emphasize" the birdseye figure in the wood; to me the only practical remedy is make the overall background shade much darker to decrease the contrast of the figure. To do this I would suggest some sort of water or alcohol-based dye and NOT a filler or pigment-based stain - the reason being the dye will penetrate more deeply and more importantly with maple, more uniformly. The pigment particles in most stains will only penetrate so far and then begin to bill up, limit, or actually block additional application. Trans-Tint is a common dye that I've used and just wish it had been around 30-years ago when I was still heavily involved with wood stocks.

1st I would dye the stock in my usual rootbeer process, dark and medium brown copper, vintage amber.
I would want the burl to pop and not subdue it but rather high light it.
Now bring on some candy!!
Looks like a fun project!!

 

[Tommie]

Just send the stock to @Bc'z
Really.

 

[Bill Norris]

Just send the stock to @Bc'z
Really.

Yep, send it on to the "paint wizard" You will not be disappointed in the finished product.

 

[Beebeetee]

Thank you...I will definitely pm him because I am at a loss on what to do with it. Thank you all for the advice

 

[Hal]

Do a goggle search on maple stocks and see anything you like.

Hal

 

[Tommie]

Thank you...I will definitely pm him because I am at a loss on what to do with it. Thank you all for the advice

Send him the stock with no pre-conceived notions of what the finished product will be. Just drop a few ideas with Brett about color etc and then stand back and wait like a giddy schoolgirl for the finished product to arrive at your door. Seriously. That maple will be a masterpiece and the pride of your collection.

 

[Beebeetee]

Thank you all for your input...looks like the overwhelming advice is to just stand back and let Brett take over. I think that's exactly what I'll do. Cheers to everyone and thanks again.

 

[Twdmar]

Birdseye maple is especially prone to blotching, as is most maple but because of all the varied open grain, sometimes it looks especially bad with dye.
The last time I dye birdseye it was a multicolor fade with a black sand back. When it was done it looked okay but I wish I would have used a fiddleback/tiger instead.
I have a picture of the figure wiped with alcohol to see what it looked like before dye and that actually looked better.
If you do dye it, thin the dye out quite a bit and build it in multiple coats. Also wiping the wood with water ahead of time may help limit the blotching.
An amber tint may look pretty good, perhaps some kind of oil that has just a bit of color. Some of them will give a touch of color and require little more than wiping on.

 

[Beebeetee]

Birdseye maple is especially prone to blotching, as is most maple but because of all the varied open grain, sometimes it looks especially bad with dye.
The last time I dye birdseye it was a multicolor fade with a black sand back. When it was done it looked okay but I wish I would have used a fiddleback/tiger instead.
I have a picture of the figure wiped with alcohol to see what it looked like before dye and that actually looked better.
If you do dye it, thin the dye out quite a bit and build it in multiple coats. Also wiping the wood with water ahead of time may help limit the blotching.
An amber tint may look pretty good, perhaps some kind of oil that has just a bit of color. Some of them will give a touch of color and require little more than wiping on.

Yes, I was going to use some light blue stain to make the figure pop out. Also, sand to 400 grit so the main grain is polished and closed that way only the cat paw would take the stain.

But I think I'll save myself the trial and error. I'm going to be reaching out to Bc'z after the holidays. Thanks

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Here's a thread where I used straight root beer kandy over a light colored piece of paulownia. It had been stained prior and had an orangeish look to it that I didn't care much for. Using kandy, you don't have to worry with splotches and such. Just get it sealed up and adjust how dark it is or isn't with the root beer, then clear it.

I do a few stocks but @Bc'z is the man. I do a few but he's a pro at this stuff. I'm posting a link so you can get a better idea of how the root beer can look over a light piece of wood with no added dye or anything. You mention blue, so this might not be what you're after anyway..but at least you can look at it and see the possibilities of just using root beer over what you have. I think your stock would look great like this, myself.

Here's that thread..

Another stock painting thread..

Bought a rifle some time back, a Borden B in a Paulownia wood Roy Hunter BR stock. The stock had several minor dents and dings and I don't care for the light color but it has some decent figuring to it. I've got it smoothed out pretty well, not perfect but good. Next up is something I've not...

forum.accurateshooter.com

 

[Bc'z]

Here's a thread where I used straight root beer kandy over a light colored piece of paulownia. It had been stained prior and had an orangeish look to it that I didn't care much for. Using kandy, you don't have to worry with splotches and such. Just get it sealed up and adjust how dark it is or isn't with the root beer, then clear it.

I do a few stocks but @Bc'z is the man. I do a few but he's a pro at this stuff. I'm posting a link so you can get a better idea of how the root beer can look over a light piece of wood with no added dye or anything. You mention blue, so this might not be what you're after anyway..but at least you can look at it and see the possibilities of just using root beer over what you have. I think your stock would look great like this, myself.

Here's that thread..

Another stock painting thread..

Bought a rifle some time back, a Borden B in a Paulownia wood Roy Hunter BR stock. The stock had several minor dents and dings and I don't care for the light color but it has some decent figuring to it. I've got it smoothed out pretty well, not perfect but good. Next up is something I've not...

forum.accurateshooter.com

Thanks Mike you ain't no slouch yourself there bud.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Thanks Mike you ain't no slouch yourself there bud.

Thank you Brett. I enjoy doing one every once in a while but I take too long to make it profitable and have other irons in the fire. I do like seeing the finished product when done, though. It's a good feeling to stand back and see the time was well spent and everybody likes a pretty gun....especially one that shoots as good as it looks.

 

[Twdmar]

Yes, I was going to use some light blue stain to make the figure pop out. Also, sand to 400 grit so the main grain is polished and closed that way only the cat paw would take the stain.

But I think I'll save myself the trial and error. I'm going to be reaching out to Bc'z after the holidays. Thanks

I think your plan sounds pretty good with the 400 grit. That combined with thinned dye and putting less on the end grain, along with using a pre-conditioner works well.
This is birdseye wiped with alcohol to check grain. Shellac with a couple drops of dye can make maple look good, though pale.
I know you've got a plan, I just like it when people learn something new and it comes out looking good.

 

[Beebeetee]

Here's a thread where I used straight root beer kandy over a light colored piece of paulownia. It had been stained prior and had an orangeish look to it that I didn't care much for. Using kandy, you don't have to worry with splotches and such. Just get it sealed up and adjust how dark it is or isn't with the root beer, then clear it.

I do a few stocks but @Bc'z is the man. I do a few but he's a pro at this stuff. I'm posting a link so you can get a better idea of how the root beer can look over a light piece of wood with no added dye or anything. You mention blue, so this might not be what you're after anyway..but at least you can look at it and see the possibilities of just using root beer over what you have. I think your stock would look great like this, myself.

Here's that thread..

Another stock painting thread..

Bought a rifle some time back, a Borden B in a Paulownia wood Roy Hunter BR stock. The stock had several minor dents and dings and I don't care for the light color but it has some decent figuring to it. I've got it smoothed out pretty well, not perfect but good. Next up is something I've not...

forum.accurateshooter.com

I think your plan sounds pretty good with the 400 grit. That combined with thinned dye and putting less on the end grain, along with using a pre-conditioner works well.
This is birdseye wiped with alcohol to check grain. Shellac with a couple drops of dye can make maple look good, though pale.
I know you've got a plan, I just like it when people learn something new and it comes out looking good.

These comments are very helpful and gives me a better idea what to expect and how better to describe what I'm looking for. Cheers...I knew this community would come through!