Tiger Striping on Stocks?

[skyhigh315]

Hi Fellas,

Sorry if this is already discussed in detail somewhere, but how do you guys get your stocks all striped up like this? What's your method?

Thanks in advance,

 

[hawkeye2]

Buy a nice piece of maple that has those stripes hidden in it, only takes $$ and then finish it using one of the methods often discussed here. They can be applied artificially but there's a chance of that turning out bad.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Your pic looks like a natural tiger stripe maple. Artificial striping can be done with several methods. And, even, sometimes it comes out not looking like a disaster. Personally, I would go with whatever you can afford. It that is plain wood, so be it, the rifle can still be beautiful. If you can afford a top end piece of tiger stripe maple, that would be great.

 

[JoJoLesh]

...
They can be applied artificially but there's a chance of that turning out bad.

That chance is bordering on 100%

I have never seen a good looking example.

Same goes with "Mustard pattern welding".


Maybe he is asking what finish brings it out the best? And does sun and oxidation help make it pop?

 

[Zonie]

Hi Fellas,

Sorry if this is already discussed in detail somewhere, but how do you guys get your stocks all striped up like this? What's your method?

Thanks in advance,



View attachment 31880

Like the others said, the wood is a "tiger stripe" or "fiddle back" or just "curly" maple. All of these names are used to describe wood that has a unique shape to its grain. Most any hardwood can have this but maple is most commonly used.

The reason for the stripes is, the grain in the wood grows in a wave shape rather than just being straight. I tried to sketch it in this drawing.
If a board that has these waves gets machined so that the crest of the wave is cut off, it leaves what is basically end grain showing on the surface.

When wood is stained, the "end grain" will absorb more stain than the grain that is running parallel with the face surfaces of a board. Likewise, when the waves in the wood get cut off, the area acts like end grain so it absorbs more stain which results in a darker stripe.

Curly wood usually costs more than plain grain wood of the same type and most places that sell it judge its worth by how consistent and close the waves are to each other. That's what they mean when they talk about "grades".

 

[MTCossack]

To sum up, you have to buy wood that is "curly." Stock sellers will specify this. Before you buy wood, make sure that it's curly. Usually "fancy" grades of maple involve more curl. You'll normally pay more for more curl and more consistent curl. Sometimes you just get lucky.

In some circles, this is called "tiger stripe" or "flame" maple, but normally in carpentry and gunstocks it's referred to as "curly."

Like others mentioned, there are ways to artificially stripe wood, but they don't normally look like the real thing. The example you showed is definitely naturally curly maple.

It can be hard to see before the wood is finished. Certain stains and finished emphasize the curl more than others. You'll find lots of information here in the "Builder's Bench" subforum about which finishes do this best, but the classic traditional longrifle stain is "Aquafortis" or Iron Nitrate. That was very likely (but not necessarily) used on the rifle you pictured.

 

[tenngun]

That chance is bordering on 100%

I have never seen a good looking example.

Same goes with "Mustard pattern welding".


Maybe he is asking what finish brings it out the best? And does sun and oxidation help make it pop?

Looking bad is in the eye of the beholder. One can not make it look natural. Howsomever it was done in the old days. Leman was famous for artificial stripe.
Sometimes in our hope to get an new’old’gun we forget that not all old guns were works of art.
I don’t like it my self, and would not try it, because it looks like what it is, but it is historic, as are painted gunstocks ect.

 

[JoJoLesh]

Looking bad is in the eye of the beholder. One can not make it look natural. Howsomever it was done in the old days. Lyman was famous for artificial stripe.
Sometimes in our hope to get an new’old’gun we forget that not all old guns were works of art.
I don’t like it my self, and would not try it, because it looks like what it is, but it is historic, as are painted gunstocks ect.

You are right. I was thinking "Home jobs" at faking figuring.

I have seen a FEW decent looking fake figure, but they were all from professional craftsmen, or modern production facilities (some mid-high end cars).

I think it is like the difference between the photo I see on Pinterest and the outcome from my attempt at the project. A HIGE something gets lost in the translation.

 

[Redmoon]

I use a tannic acid solution first to raise the grain followed by aqua fortis to desired darkness. Usually makes the curl really pop.

 

[Bob McBride]

Looking bad is in the eye of the beholder. One can not make it look natural. Howsomever it was done in the old days. Lyman was famous for artificial stripe.
Sometimes in our hope to get an new’old’gun we forget that not all old guns were works of art.
I don’t like it my self, and would not try it, because it looks like what it is, but it is historic, as are painted gunstocks ect.

Here’s one with artificial stripes. Made by Eric Kettenburg (An absolute genius high end gunmaker) to replicate plain faux stripping on original pieces.

 

[Eric Krewson]

I saw a fake striping job on the flintlock facebook page that made me gasp, it was that bad, huge blobs of black color and 1" wide ugly stripes. The guy who did it was really proud of it, of course all the usual numb skulls who know nothing about gun building chimed in with the usual "great job, work of art etc".

 

[GREENSWLDE]

We normally call it Fiddle grain this side of the pond. It is quite common in North Mediteraenion and Turkish Walnut and was not considered Special although attractive now as so many OLD guns were stood in the corner of the stable or tractor shed. Our Field or Wild walnut was mostly very straight as there was no black fruit to fall on the ground ..( Sorry.. I still have the ruler stripes on my bum for not being able to spell MED------ in junior school) but love Circasian and Fiddle Walnut .. OLD DOG..

 

[ugly old guy]

Use highly figured striped maple.

 

[galamb]

Tiger Maple or curly maple is a little more challenging to work with.

Because of the way it grows (as Zonie explained) you have harder and softer wood so when you scrape, chisel, sand etc the softer wood gets removed "easier" and you end up with a "wavy line" unless you are very careful.