Finishing curly maple

[brazosland]

Have never done it before. Have a very nicely figured hawk handle I need to finish.

Would one of you mind telling me what to buy and the quick and dirty on how to do it?

Thank you!

 

[Two Feathers]

brazosland:
Go to Dunlop Wood products and get a bottle or 2 of Magic Maple. Here's the link. Dunlap Woodcrafts – Wood our specialty
You'll have to use the email at the top. I don't see any way to order it directly from their website. The stuff works like...well, Magic! I highly recommend it. It works much better than the Aqua Fortis from TOTW. Just my opinion. Good luck, and I hope the Hawk handle turns out amazing!
God bless:
Two Feathers

 

[LawrenceA]

Once you have the solution swab the wood.
According to Jim Kibler then let it dry for an hour or so.
Using a heat source (I use a heat gun) heat the wood.
Careful you do not burn corners.
You will see the timber change colour when the right temperature is reached.
It is that simple.

 

[brazosland]

Once you have the solution swab the wood.
According to Jim Kibler then let it dry for an hour or so.
Using a heat source (I use a heat gun) heat the wood.
Careful you do not burn corners.
You will see the timber change colour when the right temperature is reached.
It is that simple.

What solution are you referring too?

With regards to heat...will a blow dryer work? Don’t really care to bus heat gun just for this handle unless I have to.

 

[Two Feathers]

Once you have the solution swab the wood.
According to Jim Kibler then let it dry for an hour or so.
Using a heat source (I use a heat gun) heat the wood.
Careful you do not burn corners.
You will see the timber change colour when the right temperature is reached.
It is that simple.

LawrenceA:
Are you talking about using the Magic Maple?
Thank you:
Two Feathers

 

[LawrenceA]

LawrenceA:
Are you talking about using the Magic Maple?
Thank you:
Two Feathers

Sorry I can't get that here. I meant the aqua fortis solution

 

[Two Feathers]

Oh...OK. Sorry to hear that. How come you can get Aqua Fortis, but NOT Magic Maple?
Oh..wait I see. Australia, Sorry. I would still think that if you can get AF you can get MM?
Stay safe my friend.
God bless:
Two Feathers

 

[Zonie]

brazosland:
Go to Dunlop Wood products and get a bottle or 2 of Magic Maple. Here's the link....
God bless:
Two Feathers

Glad to hear that someone had good results with Magic Maple.
I used it once. Never again.
I was building a longrifle using a quality curly maple stock and decided to try Magic Maple. It turned my nice curly maple stock black.
Here's a link to a discussion on the MLF about Magic Maple.

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/maple-magic-stain.36256/#post-412045

 

[Sidney Smith]

My last build I just used Birchwood Casey walnut stain. The stock turned out very nice. All I know is never use oil based stains on maple. I made that mistake on my first build. Had to strip it off and redo the whole stock.

 

[Kozmo]

I've used an aqua Fortis solution I got from Jim Kibler, and followed instructions similar to what Lawrence posted.
Once wood was sanded to the desired grit, I applied the AF solution and let dry for an hour. I sanded again with 220 to remove the raised grains of the maple. I repeated this whole process two more times. After the third AF application, drying and whiskering, I took the heat gun to the wood. The maple turned a mustardy brownish yellow when anough heat was applied. I don't think a hair drier will get the solution hot enough. I used a heat gun. After the heat application, I applied three coats of Tried and True varnish over a few days.
Here's how my rifle turned out. It wasnt a perfect process, but a nice finish all the same.

 

[Kozmo]

By the way Brazos, this process is the same for smaller wood such as handles (of course). I just did this with a curly maple knife handle that I decided to refinish on a fantastic knife made by a fellow board member.
Heated AF solution:

Varnish applied

 

[brazosland]

Thank you too all. Off to buy a heat gun! Ordering some stuff from Track, will add some AF to that order.

 

[brazosland]

Great looking knife!
Love that bolster.

 

[Oldbear63]

Don't you need to neutralize the AF treated wood with something alkaline?

 

[tenngun]

This is LM walnut stain.
Aqua forte is the most beautiful on maple.... but I never got it to work right for me

 

[LawrenceA]

Oh...OK. Sorry to hear that. How come you can get Aqua Fortis, but NOT Magic Maple?
Oh..wait I see. Australia, Sorry. I would still think that if you can get AF you can get MM?
Stay safe my friend.
God bless:
Two Feathers

No worries mate.
I am lucky to get internet. Still use ADSL where I am.
Actually can't get Aqua Fortis persay. I can get Iron Nitrate and make Aqua Fortis though!
So I did and it was AWESOME.

Result

Not the best photo but a plain piece of straw coloured wood with no discernible curl just POPPED!
The wood is now a beautiful rusty red and has maybe 60% curl

 

[Art Caputo]

I have had good results with the Aqua Fortis that is available from Jim Kibler. I just followed his instructions.

 

[Two Feathers]

Mornin' Gentlemen:
Just wanted to let y'all know that last night I cancelled my Magic Maple order.
I've (personally) never used it, I was just going on what I saw from a buddy who DOES use it and with GREAT results, but I'm not taking chances OR spending money on the CHANCE that it might NOT turn my curly maple green?
Thank you all for your comments. I know I wasn't the one asking about staining maple, BUT I've learned a lot here in this discussion.
God bless:
Two Feathers

 

[Lippy984]

No worries mate.
I am lucky to get internet. Still use ADSL where I am.
Actually can't get Aqua Fortis persay. I can get Iron Nitrate and make Aqua Fortis though!
So I did and it was AWESOME.

Result
View attachment 37747
Not the best photo but a plain piece of straw coloured wood with no discernible curl just POPPED!
The wood is now a beautiful rusty red and has maybe 60% curl

I was actually going to ask this...I recently bought a stock from Pecatonica River to replace my Renegade stock. I got the lowest grade maple, that shows no stripe and little curl at all. Will this process bring out what’s not exactly visible with an unfinished stock?

 

[Two Feathers]

Lippy984:
More than likely NOT! You may see SOME improvement, BUT you can't show off what ISN'T there. There are some great Tutorials on Faux striping however. You might consider trying that?
] Just an option.
God bless:
Two Feathers