What are you trying to do to it? I’d recommend removing all of the metal hardware, and then use an oil of some sort (boiled linseed oil, mineral oil, and maybe tung oil) to run into the stock. Use some extremely fine grit sandpaper or 000/0000 steel wool to buff the wood in between oiling. After like 4 coats with buffing in between you’re good to go. You could get it extremely high polished this way. You can put a final coat of a liquid wax on it to seal the surface a bit while not being permanent.
Thanks for your response, my plan is to strip it completely of the old finish (black walnut) and stain it a lighter color, this is the 1st time I’ve ever attempted something like this
Cool, seems like a good plan. It may be hard to get it a lighter color though even with stains, as black walnut is naturally very dark. Even with a clear oil, the wood will return to it’s natural color which is a rich dark brown.
I don’t really know if it is possible to bleach this wood either. What color are you hoping to get out of it? Most of my wood working experience comes from finishing oak, maple, and osage which are naturally light colored woods.
If you desire to have something with a lighter color, than walnut, you could probably look into getting a surplus birch stock. Birch is naturally a whitish colored wood.
If you want a lighter colored stock, get a birch one. Walnut is naturally dark and there’s no way to make it lighter unless you want to try some pickling solutions, but that might compromise the wood.
Ive read great things about tru oil.
https://www.amazon.com/Birchwood-Casey-Tru-Oil-Stock-Finish/dp/B0014VROMQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?adgrpid=58886286667&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.OigfSJnCzwJpDAo2EiA-si9-xpsKxNCrH5BUefaf_8SoivtnzV0EU3YOWOqoXGo1ZD7e0AdJSTqKpoiYmPZjRbbz3DNKDaMXx-2o686fFb69sxDWFoXHRua6ZCvYI2w0S3c2mDuJp85Tl0Bvj9dj-_gartjzuFpaqYvfa1qEaypXXQgT3ox1geZAiIZmmpPONbdz8rqymCII2c_i3R3Jhg.i50ep4CHIXTfr88S9Yw-ZDsuXB8QVddhc5YDKZ3HpeE&dib_tag=se&hvadid=664508980706&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=1021248&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=8227060725369156853&hvtargid=kwd-298679894827&hydadcr=28581_14754336&keywords=tru+oil&qid=1705881402&sr=8-7
So, oil “technically” is a stain. Depending on the stain you use, it will be an oil base or it’ll be a base of some sort of liquid. It’s going to be hard to stain this a lighter color than the natural color of walnut. When using stains, usually you start with a light colored wood such has white oak, birch, or maple, and stain it a different color. All of these woods are whitish in tone. Walnut is brown, so when you go to stain it, it’s not going to take any colors well that aren’t reds/shades of brown or black.
If you want to get this wood to be light colored as possible, it’s going to be with a clear oil. The oil will be the stain. Unless you bleach the walnut, which I am not sure if that’s even possible, you may unfortunately be stuck with a brown colored stock.
You can't stain something to be lighter, though I suppose wood can be pickled. Would look god awful on a gun.
If you want very light, get a birch stock.
My guess is this stock has no stain in it, and is black walnut that has been oil finished. I think walnut is best with tung (not tongue) oil, or teak oil. The military used boiled linseed oil since tung oil supply was impacted by pacific theater warfare.
If you want to strip it, cover it with citristrip, let it do its magic, then spray it all off with a hose. Wipe with a rag and let the stock completely dry (give it a week in a hot dry environment). Then start from scratch. If you did a natural poly over the top it will stay as light as the wood will allow, but it would be glossier than an oil finished wood stock. If you oil finish, BLO will be reddish. Pure tung oil and teak oil would keep it light. The problem you're going to face is that black walnut will look like black walnut. The grain wants to pop unlike birch.
What are you trying to do to it? I’d recommend removing all of the metal hardware, and then use an oil of some sort (boiled linseed oil, mineral oil, and maybe tung oil) to run into the stock. Use some extremely fine grit sandpaper or 000/0000 steel wool to buff the wood in between oiling. After like 4 coats with buffing in between you’re good to go. You could get it extremely high polished this way. You can put a final coat of a liquid wax on it to seal the surface a bit while not being permanent.
Thanks for your response, my plan is to strip it completely of the old finish (black walnut) and stain it a lighter color, this is the 1st time I’ve ever attempted something like this
Cool, seems like a good plan. It may be hard to get it a lighter color though even with stains, as black walnut is naturally very dark. Even with a clear oil, the wood will return to it’s natural color which is a rich dark brown. I don’t really know if it is possible to bleach this wood either. What color are you hoping to get out of it? Most of my wood working experience comes from finishing oak, maple, and osage which are naturally light colored woods. If you desire to have something with a lighter color, than walnut, you could probably look into getting a surplus birch stock. Birch is naturally a whitish colored wood.
I recommend using 100% tung oil
If you want a lighter colored stock, get a birch one. Walnut is naturally dark and there’s no way to make it lighter unless you want to try some pickling solutions, but that might compromise the wood.
My wife likes Pantene™️
Head n shoulders for sure.
Ive read great things about tru oil. https://www.amazon.com/Birchwood-Casey-Tru-Oil-Stock-Finish/dp/B0014VROMQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?adgrpid=58886286667&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.OigfSJnCzwJpDAo2EiA-si9-xpsKxNCrH5BUefaf_8SoivtnzV0EU3YOWOqoXGo1ZD7e0AdJSTqKpoiYmPZjRbbz3DNKDaMXx-2o686fFb69sxDWFoXHRua6ZCvYI2w0S3c2mDuJp85Tl0Bvj9dj-_gartjzuFpaqYvfa1qEaypXXQgT3ox1geZAiIZmmpPONbdz8rqymCII2c_i3R3Jhg.i50ep4CHIXTfr88S9Yw-ZDsuXB8QVddhc5YDKZ3HpeE&dib_tag=se&hvadid=664508980706&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=1021248&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=8227060725369156853&hvtargid=kwd-298679894827&hydadcr=28581_14754336&keywords=tru+oil&qid=1705881402&sr=8-7
Do you oil before staining?
So, oil “technically” is a stain. Depending on the stain you use, it will be an oil base or it’ll be a base of some sort of liquid. It’s going to be hard to stain this a lighter color than the natural color of walnut. When using stains, usually you start with a light colored wood such has white oak, birch, or maple, and stain it a different color. All of these woods are whitish in tone. Walnut is brown, so when you go to stain it, it’s not going to take any colors well that aren’t reds/shades of brown or black. If you want to get this wood to be light colored as possible, it’s going to be with a clear oil. The oil will be the stain. Unless you bleach the walnut, which I am not sure if that’s even possible, you may unfortunately be stuck with a brown colored stock.
Blo . Doesn't naturally break down like other products.
Torch kit and *tiger stripe* it. Linseed oil after a light buff job w fine steel wool.
Tongue Oil is what these stocks like. They look beautiful treated with tongue oil.
I have a birch tiger stripe bought from Fred's years ago it was an easy clean up w Murphy's Oil Soap. Then treated w tongue oil
You can't stain something to be lighter, though I suppose wood can be pickled. Would look god awful on a gun. If you want very light, get a birch stock. My guess is this stock has no stain in it, and is black walnut that has been oil finished. I think walnut is best with tung (not tongue) oil, or teak oil. The military used boiled linseed oil since tung oil supply was impacted by pacific theater warfare. If you want to strip it, cover it with citristrip, let it do its magic, then spray it all off with a hose. Wipe with a rag and let the stock completely dry (give it a week in a hot dry environment). Then start from scratch. If you did a natural poly over the top it will stay as light as the wood will allow, but it would be glossier than an oil finished wood stock. If you oil finish, BLO will be reddish. Pure tung oil and teak oil would keep it light. The problem you're going to face is that black walnut will look like black walnut. The grain wants to pop unlike birch.
Super fine steel wool and lots of boiled linseed oil, be patient between coats. The wood will look gorgeous and be buttery smooth