Thread: Issues with stock staining - with pictures

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

Hope this helps last, black spots are torn endgrain, it soaks stain like blotting paper, the lighter patches have correctly been I'd as partially sealed still, but could also be filler wiped over the surface.
What type of filler was it cause if epoxy its back to sandpaper.
Try washing the stock with lacquer thinners to remove the stain and filler residue ( I assume its solvent based) if not then water but expect sanding again as the grain will raise.
To control stain uptake when you redo it use a non grain raising solvent based dye stain if the birchwood one isnt (eg wattyls handyman ngr) dampen the surface with thinners before starting and always keep a wet edge going back over a dry bit will deepen the colour. Good luck voeres are bloody nice rifles.

Thanks Marty. The original finish on the rifle stock was a varnish. I used citristrip to remove that varnish entirely, then washed down the stock with water and steamed out dents and old stain, and then sanded the stock down. I then used a Birchwood Casey Gunstock Sealer and Filler, which I then had to remove with citristrip as I couldn't stain the stock (I was misguided unfortunately). Then repeated the whole process again.

I'm going to go ahead and re-start the process for a 3rd time again, this time I might dunk and scrub the stock in warm water and lacquer thinners before steaming and sanding. And I'll use the stain you're recommending - I'd ideally like a darker walnut finish.