how to stain a hickory ramrod?

[olskool]

over it years I have had problems staining a hickory ramrod. sometimes they take the stain but most times they don't. I stained one last night and went out this morning and it did not take the stain. what do you fellers do to make it stay,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[olskool]

,,

anybody know? the stain wiped right off and stained very little. I used minwax dark walnut,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[hawkeye2]

Use an alcohol based stain? Fiebings leather dye will penetrate where other stains won't. It's available in colors (you can even do aqua green), just be sure you don't get a water based leather stain or dye.

 

[Kansas Jake]

Zonie or someone here has suggested for beech to use a alcohol based stain as it penetrates better. I suspect the minwax is more oil based and does not penetrate. A water or alcohol based stain likely will penetrate more.

I see hawkeye2 posted as I was writing this. He is probably right about water based stains. I'll defer to those more knowledgeable than me.

 

[olskool]

thanks for the replies,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Pete G]

Minwax is oil based and will not stain hardwood very well. Use an alcohol based stain.

 

[Stophel]

I just toasted one the other day with a torch.

 

[olskool]

well I tried aqua Fortis with heat, it worked perfect! turned it a nice golden brown. then I applied some chambers gun stock oil. it is drying now. thanks for all the suggestions,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[MI MAN]

I used aquafortis. It turned out medium brown with the grains showing up a little more

 

[Mike Rayburn]

I used aquafortis. It turned out medium brown with the grains showing up a little more

I've been using aqua forties on ramrods for a while now, leaves a nice older looking color to the rod. Generally I will make two applications, heating in between coats with a heat gun to get that reddish blush color...then use a scotchbrite pad to smooth the surface before applying tried & true oil. Turns out quite nicely...