Oil based stains

[Goldhunter]

How long has your stain been brewing? Most on here that have used it state that it has to brew for about a month or so IIRC. My two batches have been brewing for about two months. White Buffs for longer than that. Mine didn't "stabilize" until about a month into it.

 

[Runner]

About a week is all. Mine is changing day to day right now.

 

[Stophel]

Same topic, different board...

That stock is definitely beech. Aqua fortis is THE way to go. Unlike with pigment stains, even the rays will color with A.F., and it looks so much nicer. In fact, I think it can be downright attractive wood when properly finished. Here's my little CZ22 after I stripped the rock hard beech stock down and refinished it (and MAN, was that stuff hard to strip! I have no idea what they used for varnish, but it was TOUGH! The Strypeze would barely cut it!)

I have NEVER gotten vinegar stain to make anything but a grayish color, no matter what (actually the gray color stain was real big in the late 19th century).

 

[Runner]

I will come look you up if this time fails and I have to strip it back down again. The gray color is on maple. The beech takes a brown from it that is not dark enough to yet to be a stand alone stain, but it cured some of the problems the beech presents. It will darken all of the wood like you said the aquafortis solution does. It isn't strong enough alone, but it helps take the spotty look away quite a bit. The other thing it does is something to the wood. After multiple applications of the vinegar, once cleaned up well and given time to dry, the beech will now take stain where it would not before. It is good enough to start finishing it now, but I want one more shot at working two places out! I agree it can be a nice looking wood. This this one looks very much like some walnut you see right now.
Read the other thread I posted. The implications of being able to adjust your color thru your first coat of oil could prove a life saver.