staining scratchs

[tenngun]

Ever since I started ml and pipe smoking for that matter, I have come up with great ideas, just a few hundred years too late. This might not work with raised carving as you woulndn't want to blur your lines. After I have done the first sanding I put on a light coat of stain. This makes any scratchs show up real quick. As the wood is white and the scratchs are light this makes it a lot easier for me to see. Sometimes I don't see the scratch until I've sanded the stain around it. Any one else try this?

 

[Lock Nut]

Yup. I always do that. Because when you think you have sanded your stock thoroughly and you think your ready for staining, you'll find a lot of places you have missed. :wink:

 

[wulf]

Yup. I always do that. Because when you think you have sanded your stock thoroughly and you think your ready for staining, you'll find a lot of places you have missed. :wink:

To miss is human....

 

[Spikebuck]

This might not work with raised carving as you woulndn't want to blur your lines.

Actually, In Susanne Warren-Bicio's book Longrifle Construction Manual (Ed.2) on pg 123 under the title of "Surface Preparation" she states:"I stain as I go using the same stain (or darker)intended for the final color to both raise the grain and expose unfinished areas I missed. The stain causes the unfinished areas to be darker and rough looking....I use stain to aid me in identifying unsatisfactory areas of my carving before I go onto finishing."

Susanne's book is the one of the first I bought and I highly recommend it. It is not as thoroughly detailed as Gunsmith of Grenville County, but I found it much easier to read and great for budding builders.
http://www.historicalarmsmaker.com/about.html

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

Not much of an option when using Aqua Fortis, a directed light source low across the wood serves the same purpose.

 

[Spikebuck]

a directed light source low across the wood serves the same purpose.

Thanks! I'm definitely going to try that.

I have also found that simply taking lots of good, closeup pictures (use a camera that allows focus at close distances) can show you a lot about your build. I don't know why it is, but things I don't see with my eye show up in photos. Sometimes what shows up isn't really there since it's some kind of light "trick", but it definitely gives me a place to go look at and correct if necessary. Digital cameras are soooo nice! Just take 'em, review 'em, and delete 'em.

And you don't need a fancy expensive camera. I have a simple Nikon Coolpix that takes pretty darned good closeups (and other pictures.)

 

[Pete G]

I have read of using yellow food coloring to highlight areas that need work. One day I might even remember to try it before I become too anxious to see what the stock is going to look like.

 

[BrownBear]

I just shake a little chalk from my chalk line onto the stock. Lightly smear it down the stock, and the scratches jump. Hit the stock with the air hose, and the chalk is gone.

 

[tenngun]

I find some times even with the light stain I don't see the scratch until I've started sanding and then one pops out. Chalk sounds real good.
Aqua forte is very pretty, very hc, but my attempts with it have been poor, I haven't attempted it for years. This is always done with the gross sanding, not the final. The gun is sanded to the white before my 'real stain
' goes on. Would that interfere with aqua forte?
I try the light thing a lot but still miss stuff until I do the stain...must not have an eye for detail :wink:

 

[Col. Batguano]

Plain old water isn't too bad for finding scratches either, and, you need that for whiskering anyway.

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

The key with the low light is to be sure it is the main/only source of light you are using at the time, the way my shop is situated the rising sun streaming in thru the windows is perfect, later in the evening I just use a clip on light down level with the stock and turn the overheads off.

I have not tried to use stains under the aqua fortis.
:idunno:

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

Yup the camera shows everything, cannot hide from the photo.
:shake:

 

[Col. Batguano]

At least a gun never asks you if these new grips make them look fat. :rotf:

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

and it wont slap you or give you the cold shoulder when you answer wrong, or refuse to answer a loaded question.

:grin: