Kibler Colonial rifle

[sleepingbulldog]

Very nice. I ordered some tannic acid with my kit but I'm debating whether to use it or just go with the iron nitrate.

 

[Brianl1620]

Very nice. I ordered some tannic acid with my kit but I'm debating whether to use it or just go with the iron nitrate.

The tannic acid is the very first thing you use, if you have any figure in your wood, it really makes it pop (darker and more defined) then follow that with your iron nitrate then the heat gun. Jim Kibler has some great YouTube videos on doing this very traditional and authentic finish on rifles

 

[Atticus69]

thanks, I used kiblers tannic acid, kiblers iron nitrate and a little of his bone black, then 12 coats of helmsman spar varnish semi gloss

thanks for the info

 

[Ed Pilkington]

Good work! Good book says I shouldn’t covet…

 

[Eddie Southgate]

Beautiful rifle .

 

[sleepingbulldog]

Yeah, I've watched his videos and understand the process. I'm just trying to decide if I like the darker finish using both tannic acid and iron nitrate or if I want to go with just the iron nitrate. I ordered the extra fancy maple so it should have plenty of figure and I'm not sure if darkening it up will hide it. I might do some experimenting inside the patch box or barrel channel before making a final decision.

The tannic acid is the very first thing you use, if you have any figure in your wood, it really makes it pop (darker and more defined) then follow that with your iron nitrate then the heat gun. Jim Kibler has some great YouTube videos on doing this very traditional and authentic finish on rifles

 

[sleepingbulldog]

I've actually used a similar homemade finish on wood furniture before. I used very strong tea followed by steel wool dissolved in vinegar to finish a bathroom vanity I built a few years back. It makes for a nice finish once you give it a coat or two of furniture wax.

 

[Eras Gone]

Beautimous! I'm considering one myself. The curl is better than I expected for middle grade.