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Burn pattern on a stock?
- Thread starter MattyB
- Start date
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Whatta ya mean?
Like feather a torch across the grain an get that kinda burnt look?
Like this Lantern?
Like feather a torch across the grain an get that kinda burnt look?
Like this Lantern?
matt denison
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What you are thinking of doing is something only a Boy Scout would do. (insert "shuddering" icon here) very ameteurish.
Seriously bad idea.
:shake:
But then, well, this is America and you can do as you please.
Seriously bad idea.
:shake:
But then, well, this is America and you can do as you please.
ApprenticeBuilder
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Dan,
I was really hoping you would tell us how you actually feel about this subject.
:slap: :stir:
I was really hoping you would tell us how you actually feel about this subject.
:slap: :stir:
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Dan's answer was blunt, but pretty much correct. A burned pattern gunstock, looks like a burned pattern gunstock.
There are those who have burned a spiral pattern onto their ramrods. Some like them and some don't.
There also have been a very few who have tried to burn a striped curl pattern onto their stocks.
I don't think I've attended one gun show where I was carrying one of my curly maple rifles where I didn't hear, "Did you burn those stripes on that wood? You know that's how all of the old timers did it."
Of course, that's hooey but they seem to believe it can be done.
Anyway, as far as burning some sort of pattern on a stock, yes, it can be done.
Well it look good? I guess that is in the eye of the beholder but I think that most folks would say it wouldn't.
There also have been a very few who have tried to burn a striped curl pattern onto their stocks.
I don't think I've attended one gun show where I was carrying one of my curly maple rifles where I didn't hear, "Did you burn those stripes on that wood? You know that's how all of the old timers did it."
Of course, that's hooey but they seem to believe it can be done.
Anyway, as far as burning some sort of pattern on a stock, yes, it can be done.
Well it look good? I guess that is in the eye of the beholder but I think that most folks would say it wouldn't.
I've heard the same thing about some folks thinking striped patterns were burned into stocks. I have an old gunsmithing book that shows a faux striped gunstock, and describes how the stripes were burned in by rolling flax into short "ropes", soaking in kerosene or picth, and placing them on the wood in a natural pattern. It is set on fire for a certain amount of time, then the stock is sanded or scraped to get a more natural look.
It sounds cool and romantic, but this was just an early explanation for a lost technique. It has been later discovered, through research, that faux stripes were simply painted on stain.
I've seen some modern walnut stocked guns that have been burned for artistic value, and my opinion is :barf: :barf: and more :barf: .
Friends don't let friends burn gunstocks. Bill
It sounds cool and romantic, but this was just an early explanation for a lost technique. It has been later discovered, through research, that faux stripes were simply painted on stain.
I've seen some modern walnut stocked guns that have been burned for artistic value, and my opinion is :barf: :barf: and more :barf: .
Friends don't let friends burn gunstocks. Bill
paulvallandigham
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If someone can't recognize natural fiddleback(ie. tiger stripes) in a piece of maple, or sometimes in a piece of walnut stock, I tell them they need to get new glasses! If they give me a dirty look, I just give them a dirty look right back !
To the original poster: Try this on a piece of scrap wood, before you ruin a perfectly good gunstock. You will find it looks terrible, and there simply is no way to do this and make the stock look like a real stock with natural fiddleback.
Fiddleback seems to move as you change the angle at which the light strikes the stock. Painted or "burned"-on stripes don't move when you change the angle of the stock to your light source.
If you want a stock with fiddleback, they can be purchased, depending on the degree to which you want the wood to exhibit this characteristic, from several stock suppliers. for reasonable prices. Stocks are graded based on the figure, and fiddleback they exhibit. The better the figure, and fiddleback, the higher the price. Check with Pecatonica River, and Dunlap for prices and grading scales. Without knowing what kind of gun you are trying to stock, it would only be a wild guess as to what you may have to pay for a pre-carved stock, or stock blank, from any supplier.
You can find suppliers on this forum by going to the top of the index page here, look for "Member Resources," and then scroll down to "Articles, Charts, and Links." Click on "links" and you will be taken to a list of suppliers. Click on the name, and you get their on-line catalog, and contact information.
Claude cannot be more helpful. :shocked2: :hatsoff: :hatsoff:
To the original poster: Try this on a piece of scrap wood, before you ruin a perfectly good gunstock. You will find it looks terrible, and there simply is no way to do this and make the stock look like a real stock with natural fiddleback.
Fiddleback seems to move as you change the angle at which the light strikes the stock. Painted or "burned"-on stripes don't move when you change the angle of the stock to your light source.
If you want a stock with fiddleback, they can be purchased, depending on the degree to which you want the wood to exhibit this characteristic, from several stock suppliers. for reasonable prices. Stocks are graded based on the figure, and fiddleback they exhibit. The better the figure, and fiddleback, the higher the price. Check with Pecatonica River, and Dunlap for prices and grading scales. Without knowing what kind of gun you are trying to stock, it would only be a wild guess as to what you may have to pay for a pre-carved stock, or stock blank, from any supplier.
You can find suppliers on this forum by going to the top of the index page here, look for "Member Resources," and then scroll down to "Articles, Charts, and Links." Click on "links" and you will be taken to a list of suppliers. Click on the name, and you get their on-line catalog, and contact information.
Claude cannot be more helpful. :shocked2: :hatsoff: :hatsoff:
Hmm...
Paul, Zonie, Snow, and Wick; thanks for the advice. I am much less inclined to think about it now, but I think I am even more curious to see what it looks like since it seems so reprehensible. Still looking for a picture....
Paul, Zonie, Snow, and Wick; thanks for the advice. I am much less inclined to think about it now, but I think I am even more curious to see what it looks like since it seems so reprehensible. Still looking for a picture....
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If you are determined to fake stripe it, experiment with black ink and a fine artist brush. Burning usually looks too obvious. I used ink on an ash tomahawk handle that is very hard to distinguish from real without a very close up look. I also used a fine piece of curly maple as a model when painting the stripes on.
Wick makes a good point. You could experiment with ink, stains, aqua fortis, or any kind of wood colorant. Dark is dark, so the only difference between applying stains and charring wood would be the huge amount of control gained by painting it on, instead of just hoping a flame chars in an asthetic pattern.
I have about ten years experience as a faux finish painter, painting home decor objects to look like rusted iron, oxidized copper, or other appealing patterns. I used sponges, brushes, layered overlay, and the side of my hand to apply the paint. I have since taken some of those techniques to my wood working projects, sponging on stains to get a some interesting effects. With a little practice, you could come up with a pattern that would fit with a gunstock. It may not be traditional, but could enhance the look of the stock without ruining the wood by charring it. The sky is the limit. Bill
I have about ten years experience as a faux finish painter, painting home decor objects to look like rusted iron, oxidized copper, or other appealing patterns. I used sponges, brushes, layered overlay, and the side of my hand to apply the paint. I have since taken some of those techniques to my wood working projects, sponging on stains to get a some interesting effects. With a little practice, you could come up with a pattern that would fit with a gunstock. It may not be traditional, but could enhance the look of the stock without ruining the wood by charring it. The sky is the limit. Bill
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I did once have in my possession a large trade pistol made by Curly Gostomski that was walnut, torched all over and the metal aged. The torching was evenly done however, and it did look good if you like the aged look. Were not some of the Leman guns faux striped?
I got bored one winter and torched my tomahawk handle. It was plain hickory. Now it's burned plain hickory.
I would not do this to a new rifle, or any wood that had any redeeming grain at all. It will look hokey.
I would not do this to a new rifle, or any wood that had any redeeming grain at all. It will look hokey.
Vairochana
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Here ya go
stock was originally a pale cheap timber-this is an improvement)
stock was originally a pale cheap timber-this is an improvement)
Pete Gaimari
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I wouldn't like the stock done, but it looks pretty good on the ramrod, and I believe it's PC.
Rogue River
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Are you wanting a burned pattern or are you looking to just highlight the wood grain?
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The only burn pattern I've seen that I really liked had nothing to do with what you're trying to do, but maybe that's my point too.
For his birthday, we had a miniature branding iron made of our neighbor's brand in the Southwest, intended for branding his steaks on the grill. He thought it was so cool, first time out of the chute he got enthused and branded the stock on the ancient Winchester Model 94 he keeps on his mantel. The gun was his granddad's and his granddad registered the brand in the late 1800's, so it was an easy decision for him. I wouldn't have done it, but I have to admit it looks really cool.
For his birthday, we had a miniature branding iron made of our neighbor's brand in the Southwest, intended for branding his steaks on the grill. He thought it was so cool, first time out of the chute he got enthused and branded the stock on the ancient Winchester Model 94 he keeps on his mantel. The gun was his granddad's and his granddad registered the brand in the late 1800's, so it was an easy decision for him. I wouldn't have done it, but I have to admit it looks really cool.
