restaining wood grips

I have some wood grips and do not really like their light color.
How difficult would it be to sand them and then restain a different darker color?
Would that even be feasible?
Or would I never be able to sufficiently remove enough of the original color?

If their fit is good, ILO sanding, I'd use a stripper (like Homer Formby's Furniture Restorer) to remove the finish for staining.

.

If the light color is a stain under the finish coat you will have to fuss with more stain 'til your happy with it.

If they have been used a lot they are probably oil soaked from your hands. Stain will not penetrate well. I say just forget and keep using as they are or shop for new ones.

Pietro said:

If their fit is good, ILO sanding, I'd use a stripper (like Homer Formby's Furniture Restorer) to remove the finish for staining.

Click to expand...

their fit is perfect!

I have already tried swapping grips from a few of the other revolvers, but each grip set is unique enough such that they are essentially custom to their specific revolver

hrt4me said:

their fit is perfect!

I have already tried swapping grips from a few of the other revolvers, but each grip set is unique enough such that they are essentially custom to their specific revolver

Click to expand...

Herrets will custom make grips to fit your hand.
http://herrettstocks.com/

Leather dye will darken them. Brown and black would be my first choices. Do not sand them, use stripper. IF you sand they will not fit the gun right after.

A soaking in acetone will pull the oil out if they are oil soaked, but you need to get the varnish off first (if it's varnish).

To test what the finish is, start with a dab of mineral spirits. If it softens, then it's wax. Then try alcohol. If it softens, then it's shellac. Then go to lacquer thinner. If it softens, it's EITHER lacquer OR Shellac (but you already tried alcohol first to eliminate that). Next, go to the stipper. That will get at most 1-part varnishes. If it's still a no-go then you have a 2-part varnish, which is a form of epoxy. I think it's either tuolene or Xylene that softens that stuff, but I've never tried it.

If NONE of those above products work you have a Super-Finish. The only thing left to try is Kryptonite.