Here is a new twist , at least for me.

[4570tc]

Has any one ever heard of this down to the finial whiskering, when I put Tap water on the stock to raise the Whiskers, the stock turns grey? Same results with Distilled water? and it is Very hard to sand the stain from the stock!
The stock is curly maple. and I am sure it will cover with stock stain?

 

[BillyC]

Has any one ever heard of this down to the finial whiskering, when I put Tap water on the stock to raise the Whiskers, the stock turns grey? Same results with Distilled water? and it is Very hard to sand the stain from the stock!
The stock is curly maple. and I am sure it will cover with stock stain?

Same thing happened to me. I had an extra fancy maple stock and the curl was gray. After using aqua fortis it was gone.

 

[4570tc]

Same thing happen to me. I had an extra fancy maple stock and the curl was gray. After using aqua fortis it was gone.

I was hoping for that!

 

[The Appalachian]

Did a quick Google, "does tap water turn maple gray"?

Nothing useful species wise other than a couple hints that some maple trees might have an "inherent" mineral content or fungal content unique to that particular tree, which might cause a color change, but not specifically gray.

So, I have no idea myself. Never seen it.

 

[Polecat_Tom]

Yes. On a cherry stock I had grey specks show up after I whiskered. Sanded it all off and did it again because I thought it might be from file dust.
Again the specks showed up so I sanded them out again with 320 and followed with 400.
I didn't whisker a 3rd time.

I have seen one oak stile on a door turn black when water based finishes were applied. I never figured out what was in the wood to cause that.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

Wonder if it might be chlorine in the water...? I have not seen this but I'm on a well.

 

[4570tc]

Wonder if it might be chlorine in the water...? I have not seen this but I'm on a well.

No on the second wetting I used Distilled water, same affect?

 

[necchi]

Ya, your ok, your whiskering , not staining. Please do the whiskering properly.
Your golden, it's wood. But good job checking, questions are good, and this is a place to find answers.
Don't "hurry" to finish,, many times, that anxious need to finish, makes a build loose that really nice edge above the rest.
Good luck.

 

[BillyC]

Is this what your stock looks like?

 

[Pete G]

What about whispering with alcohol?

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

What about whispering with alcohol?

Sometimes People do a lot of whispering..with alcohol....sorry couldn.t help it...

 

[Pete G]

Sometimes People do a lot of whispering..with alcohol....sorry couldn.t help it...

You are absolutely correct, Sir

 

[4570tc]

Is this what your stock looks like?

YEP!!!!

 

[Sam squanch]

I YELL a lot with alcohol…..

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

The Grey is from sandpaper. It's no big deal. Ignore it and carry on. It won't effect the end product.

 

[Polecat_Tom]

The Grey is from sandpaper

Can you expand? Do you find one brand of sandpaper is more likely to cause this? Do you know what in the sandpaper is causing this?
Thank you for this information as I have wondered about this for years. Our Axel Nobel sales representatives didn't even know what was causing it. I always thought it was something in the piece of wood causing some sort of reaction.

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

I believe it's from aluminum oxide sandpaper. It doesn't hurt anything

 

[springfield art]

Same thing happened to me. I had an extra fancy maple stock and the curl was gray. After using aqua fortis it was gone.

Gorgeous stock!

 

[DCAN]

Had the stock turn gray while wiskering my SMR. Was going to post a pic of it, but never got around to doing that. After finishing everything turned out great.