Stock finishing question.

I am trying something different. The stock I am now finishing is stained with the Aqua Fortis recipe from W. Young and is drying now getting ready to heat up with a hot air gun. Usually I use LMF stains over this recipe but this time I want to just use the Aqua Fortis for color. Should I still use the LMF sealer before I use the LMF finish over the Aqua Fortis? Is the sealer only used with the LMF stain to keep the stain from eating the finish?
Thanks for your helpful opinions,
Don

 

[rich pierce]

You should neutralize the AQF after staining, with sodium bicarb (baking soda) or dilute lye then was with water and you'll not need to worry about AQF having any remaining activity after that treatment. Most sealers are just diluted finishes.

 

Thanks for the reply Rich. Have you ever had the LMF stain eat through the LMF finish when applied without the LMF sealer first?
Don

 

[Vaino]

As has been stated before, LMF sealer is a thinned version of the finish and is all I ever use for the final coats. Don't like the gloss of LMF finish. Have used the sealer over Aqua Fortis and the LMF stains w/ excellent results.

 

Hi Flehto, Do you then put a wax finish over the sealer or let that be the final top coat also.
If so, how does it hold up under hunting conditions?
Thanks, Don

 

[Vaino]

Hi Cooner 54.... I don't wax the sealer finish, but it wouldn't hurt anything. What I like about using just the sealer, is that the finish is in the wood and not heavily layered on and isn't glossy. Built a "Hawken" w/ the LMF sealer finish and used it for Colorado elk for 8 yrs. and one year it rained the greater part of each day, all week long w/ no ill affects and we hunted in the rain the whole time......Fred

 

[paulvallandigham]

I have found that if I draw a finish soaked patch or towel or rag over the finish while it is wet, but after it has been allowed to set up for 10 minutes or so, that I knock off the plastic finish look, and get a dull matte look to the finish. I do use a wax on my gun before going hunting if I think it is going to rain. Works well, but doesn't last more than a couple of days. I found that if you don't move much, or move very, very slow- as slow as a tree- that animals are not spooked by light shining off the stock.

 

Thanks a bunch for your replies guys. I think I figured out my problem today. It has been so stinking humid that the sealer isn't drying. So, I rubbed it back and burnished the stock and will wait until the humidity goes down a bit. I will try the sealer only on this rifle and see how it goes.
Salute,
Don :hatsoff: