Aquafortis Stain

Are you sure it's aqua fortis? I know that's what it says at the top, but at the bottom appears the phrase "It is Cromium Trioxlate. I think it is CRO2."

 

[rabbit03]

Here is my results on a Vincent that I built for my son. Is is the Nitric (old school) stain and I like it and use it on anything I do. You need ehough heat to heat the wood up a little but not burn it you are just trying to (set)the stain in the wood.
[url] http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b206/rabbit03/first1006.jpg[/url]

rabbit

 

[TexiKan]

It sounds like some folks have had better luck with Aquafortis than I did. Back in the late 1970's, I finished my Hawken with it. Ever so often, I had to consistently touch up the area of the stock where my hands and fingers touched it. I've used this Hawken a lot and it is basically the only gun I shoot.

A couple of years ago I was at a Rondy and during the woods walk, the rain came down with a vengance! I was able to finish the event but the gun now looked awful. Once home and once dry, I decided to rub down the finish and I applied Laurel Mountain. So far, it seems to be holding up better. I really liked the look of the Aquafortis on my Hawken but it was getting to be a challenge to keep staining it. Just my experience.

TexiKan

 

Texikan, the problem you had with your Hawken was a problem with the top coat or finish not with the Aqua Fortis stain itself. Did you use linseed oil for the finish? That doesn't provide a water barrier and just the sweat from your hands will penetrate it and ruin the looks of your rifle. I've been there myself years ago. Kept the Aqua Fortis stain and put Tru-Oil over it and didn't have any more problems with that particular rifles looks. IMHO that was your problem too.
Don

 

[TexiKan]

Cooner54,

I used the total Wakhon Bay finishes. I browned the barrel with Tru-Brown, stained the stock with Aquafortis, and then applied the Tru-Coat on the stock. Yes, I am sure you are correct in that the Tru-Coat did not really protect the stain. One one of the subsequent restaining, I used some True Oil but I didn't use too much because I wasn't fond of a shiny finish. I lost count on how many restainings and other types of coats I used.

Like I said, the Aguafortis looked good on my Hawken. Keeping it on there was the challenge!

TexiKan

 

[Stophel]

This is kind of bizarre. Aqua fortis should not "come off". It is not a "stain" but a "colorant". The wood actually turns color, color is not really added to it. The finish might come off, but the color shouldn't. Now, it can WEAR off, but that's because the wood itself can wear off.

:hmm:

 

[TexiKan]

Yeah, the areas where my left hand and right hand held the gun looked worn after a few outings. Basically, the color was much lighter in those areas, leading me to believe it wore, faded or lost intensity in those areas.

After this thread, I decided to try Aguafortis once more on another project. I have one of the small bottles that was about half full, and I still have one large, unused bottle, purchased years ago. Dang! I forgot how beautiful that color is! I've applied Tru-oil this time. The color continues to amaze me........

TexiKan