Do all custom gunmakers use the same stuff or formula and process? Does everyone get the same results? I am thinking of having some on my stock.

Go to Brownells and buy Pilkington's Red stain
(expensive) but gives a true "English Red" finish.

Ruger African 375 H&H.

Go to Brownells and buy Pilkington's Red stain
(expensive) but gives a true "English Red" finish.

Ruger African 375 H&H.





.

I'm having a 375 done now with Alkanet root just to have a rifle that looks different. I like really dark wood and it seems like older english rifles with dark wood were treated with Alkanet root to add some color.

We have to keep in mind that ALL color enhancements have varying results on different pieces of wood (except paint of course)

Always best to save scraps, sand them right up to 600 grit and give each treatment a go and see what happens..

Personally, I like alkenet root...when mixed with linseed, you can keep applying each day until you like the color.

As Mr DW above says, that's the way most do it here in England. Put the alkanet root into boile linseed oil and them heat it up to get out the colour.

Then strain it off so that you have just the now coloured oil. Or you can use raw linseed oil and put the root in and boil that up.

Hmm!

after alkinet /oil is applied the color that we all look for takes years to set in ,, this is behlens water base stain red mahogany with spar varnish applied with a japan drier hand rubbed....paul

quote:

Originally posted by PAUL J.A.:
after alkinet /oil is applied the color that we all look for takes years to set in ,, this is behlens water base stain red mahogany with spar varnish applied with a japan drier hand rubbed....paul

Nice looking example but is this the same stuff? Has this stuff been used in the past?

quote:

Originally posted by PAUL J.A.:

Sorry to hijack, but whose recoil pad is that in the picture?

this is not alkinet root it is behlen water base stain ,,red mohogany,mixed with dark mahogany and some reddish it was years ago so im not ecxatly sure but i klnow altho i had alkinet root sitting in a jar i did not use it ,,i also tried alkinet root mixed with alchohol ,, alkinet root even tho it looks as red as robitussin cough syrup does not take on the color so fast ,it takes time ,,,i bought the alkinet root from champlin arms in 1985 glen the pad is from griffin & howe i attached it then ran it off on a belt sander and i may have put acetone on it if i remember something to shine it up ,,duane probably knows ....paul

Duane, have you tried the root with the Daly products you use?

I do...but have settled pretty much (If there's such a term with strock finishing!) On linseed and alkenet...keep applying until desired color is obtained (a day apart).

If you have plenty of time, let the oil oxidize, but you can speed it up with applications of "Ship n' Shore" sealer or equal.

Heck...there's probably thousanda of products one could try!, but alcohol based stains tend to fade...at least that's what the big boys say.

Thanks, I spent, I think wasted a lot of time, searching for the perfect stock finish. I settled on dalys teak oil awhile back and have finally found a technique and finish that I like, or almost anyways. That final finish is my least favorite part, getting it "just right". I want to try some alkenet root on a light colored blank I have but am a bit shy of reinventing my wheel again.

I too have been using Daly's teak oil, Alkenet root and rottenstone and have been very happy with it. I might try the linseed red oil treatment on a lighter piece of walnut I have sitting here. It sounds promising. I have used "ship n' shore", but only to seal a stock before applying the teak oil. I had not thought about it to aid in the drying of linseed. More things to mix up and play with.