Whats a good way to darken a shotgun stock?

[Target]

I have a shotgun with what I believe is beech wood and its too light in color for my tastes.
I'd like to darken it to match the Mossberg Retro series trench gun.
I looked on Youtube but did not really find what I wanted.

If I were to guess, I'd strip the varnish with Citri-strip ( or whatever it is) , sand it a bit then I'm unsure.

How do I prep the wood for stain?
Do I just use a Minwax dark stain in a color that seems good on the can ( I have access to many stains).
I don't want a gloss finish. Do I use boiled linseed oil over the dried stain?Tung oil?

 

[meketrefe]

Use a dsrk oil. Remove the stock and try it in a small area you dont see to make sure you like it. I would personslly seal it with a wax finish but that will put some minor shine to it.

 

[Robin]

A rattle can of flat black paint. That high temp engine stuff is pretty durable.
Robin

 

[MuttCat]

If you strip it down to bare wood, and it is beech, and it was me, I would use a coat of 50:50 mix denatured alcohol and shellac and then color with a dye. I believe beech is one of those woods that doesn't take stain evenly, so the sealer coat helps with that. Tung has the edge over linseed. I have a true dark tung oil that I got from the milk paint people...I'd have to go down to shop to get the name. I'll stick it here later.

I've had oil based stains bleed into top coats, no problem with dyes.

 

[218bee]

Product called Fiebings Leather Dye. Comes In an assortment of colors. Like $5 at Walmart .This stuff is so strong, that most times I dilute it with alcohol. It will stain the toughest blonde wood that normally wouldn't take an oil stain. Be careful you dont get it on anything but the wood. Dries fast and can be clear'ed over pretty quick.

 

[IrishMick]

Dammit Robin, We're supposed to be disguising "Black Rifles" as hunting guns not the other way around!

 

[Chevusa]

A sharpie?

 

[Blimey]

Dim the lights.

 

[FrankenCub]

Torch

 

[ArmedCorgi]

Blood?

 

[ArmedCorgi]

Blood?

KIDDING!!

 

[MuttCat]

A lacquer toner rattle can would save a lot of work.

Where in central NY are you?

 

[Target]

Syracuse area

 

[MuttCat]

Making the existing finish darker can be a quick and dirty, and easy thing. Sprays will do it with little prep.

Completely refinishing is another matter.

As I understand, the "trench" gun replica that you speak of, if based on the original Winchester, has the beech wood stock, the original would have been walnut. I do not pretend to be an expert here, but I believe Winchester mostly used a reddish stain on walnut. So to keep with a similar look, a dark red-brown color...is that what you're thinking about? I did a Turkish walnut stock with a Herter's Winchester red stain (had filler also), and nailed that Winchester color. I think I got it from Brownell's....but beech and walnut have different grain and wood color.

Which way are going? I asked where you lived because I've got a bunch of toner sprays.

 

[Bustedknees]

If you get it down to bare wood burn it with a torch then put a linseed oil finish over it..

 

[Robin]

Its birch more than likely, remotely possible it is beech! Either way, It will never look good, Paint it, or do some fancy torch work on it.
Robin

 

[MuttCat]

Ah yes, birch.

 

[kev74]

My vote is for Citristrip, stain and refinish with tung oil.

Go slow with the stain, maybe thin it down and do lots of coats until you get what you want. You can always put more on, but its a bitch to remove.

I've had good luck with refinishing a couple of birch stocks. Not a lot of figure in the grain, but they come out pretty.

 

[Target]

I Tacticool'd a Winchester 120 with polymer furniture ( pistol grip/ stock combo, Winchester Defender pump handle), chopped the 28" ribbed bird barrel to 19"ish ( to line up with a support block), +2 magazine extension, side saddle 6 shell holder, barrel clamp with flash light / sling mount + light, Tru-Glow sights, Blue Force Gear combat style sling, with QDs, and may or may not have a SightMark Ultra Shot in FDE on the bench.

IF I ever were to go hunting with it, I can strip it down an reconfigure it with the slug barrel. The light wood is a bit FUDDy so I'd like to darken it.

 

[Target]

I DuckDuckGo'd it and it is birch. Sorry bout that. I have grease on my hands, not much saw dust.
I'll play around with the wood during this "vacation" and see if its worth pursuing.

Anyhow, just for fun here is a picture of the complete gun. I just cleaned it and now realize that all the junk on requires tools to field strip it . The clamp has to come off, the stock and the side saddle. Good thing it not a weekly chore .

 

[Criticalt]

Product called Fiebings Leather Dye. Comes In an assortment of colors. Like $5 at Walmart .This stuff is so strong, that most times I dilute it with alcohol. It will stain the toughest blonde wood that normally wouldn't take an oil stain. Be careful you dont get it on anything but the wood. Dries fast and can be clear'ed over pretty quick.

View attachment 67803

This is what I use for finishing my handmade smoking pipes.
The briar wood that pipes are made of is very hard and difficult to stain.
The Fiebings works great and stands up to heat and moisture.

 

[Day444]

Please do yourself a favor and don't use a torch. Remove all the hardware, sand it down and then stain it the darker color you'd like. Finish is another subject. I like a paste wax finish.

 

[Target]

Beautiful work there @Criticalt...I appreciate fine craftsmanship and talent.

 

[Robin]

Nice stuff there Crit!!!! Do you sell them?
Robin

 

[Criticalt]

Nice stuff there Crit!!!! Do you sell them?
Robin

I have sold them for the last decade but I have slowed down making them the last few months. I will pick it up again soon.
So yes, I sell them.

 

[Saltwater60]

This is what I use for finishing my handmade smoking pipes.
The briar wood that pipes are made of is very hard and difficult to stain.
The Fiebings works great and stands up to heat and moisture.
View attachment 67882
View attachment 67883
View attachment 67884
View attachment 67885

Man those are nice

 

[MuttCat]

Wow, those pipes are beautiful. And I have heard of leather dye used to color wood, never used it myself though. I've a few pipes, but I still prefer my Perdomo 'gars.

 

[Criticalt]

Wow, those pipes are beautiful. And I have heard of leather dye used to color wood, never used it myself though. I've a few pipes, but I still prefer my Perdomo 'gars.

I also love my cigars.
The last 2 days I had an Arturo Fuente and and an Alec Bradley Black Market.
I need to get through my humidor this summer.......im a bt tired of taking care of it.
Ive got cigars from 2006-2017. I lost intrest over the last few years but now im liking them again.