Aquafortis

[The New Guy]

Bill, how did you get this particular patina on the barrel? I love the look and would like to try something like that. Was it simply browned and rubbed out?

 

It was cold blue, I allowed to rust, then worked back with scotch brite. If I do it again, plan on wiping it back more.

Bill

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

Hey Bill,

Thanks for the pictures, its nice to know when I'm right.
That is a dandy looking smooth rifle and thanks again for posting more pics.

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

Interesting you got the same colors, on the same wood, regardless whether it was the crystals or the home made brews of AF. That's good to know. I will stick with the crystals and Wahkon Bay and avoid playing with the acid.

I agree completely.

No point in messing with the acid if I don't need to, to many chances for things to go wrong.

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

First go around with the Whakon Bay aqua fortis. this is scrap from a blank I am getting close with.

 

[Bruce Bogart]

I gotta think that a nice oil finish will make that wood MORE than presentable! Do you like it?

 

What was your first thought when you applied it, and it turned that sickly grey green, before you blushed it..

Bill

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

I gotta think that a nice oil finish will make that wood MORE than presentable! Do you like it?

I will probably never use stains again, there is just no comparison with the aqua fortis, even as good as the Laurel Mountain Forge, Homer Dangler, lines are, they cannot do what the aqua fortis does.

So yes I am a believer in the old ways.

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

What was your first thought when you applied it, and it turned that sickly grey green, before you blushed it..

Bill

I'll get some pictures this weekend and you can see what mine does, sickly green is not it.

 

[tallbear]

Looks Good :thumbsup: You will find that the more you experment the more confortable you will become with aqua fortis.Now that you've moved to the dark side you won't return :wink: :wink:

Mitch

 

[Tumblernotch]

I use it straight. It stains dark unless it gets old. I stained two stocks quite a few years apart with the same bottle. The first rifle was quite dark and has darkened with age except where it was handled a lot. The other one is a good bit lighter. Of course that particular bottle had sat in the cabinet for about 18 years. Michael Lea bought Wahkon Bay some time ago and when I bought some bottles from him at a show back in January, he indicated that he had tweaked the recipe a little and it is supposedly better than it was. I thought it worked fine to begin with. I don't know what change(s) he made. I've not used any of it yet.

I'm assuming that you know that you need to use heat to activate this stain. Not hard to do but easy to scorch the wood if you don't watch out. If you're careful you can manipulate your colors in a pleasing fashion.

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

Now that you've moved to the dark side you won't return :wink: :wink:

Mitch

The dark side represents taking that extra step to get the most out of the project, i'm there. There really is no comparison plus the dark side has cookies :grin:

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

I'm assuming that you know that you need to use heat to activate this stain. Not hard to do but easy to scorch the wood if you don't watch out. If you're careful you can manipulate your colors in a pleasing fashion.

Yes,

In my limited exposure to this process it is evident that heat, how long it is applied, and how hot it is, have a huge effect on the outcome.

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

So,

Earlier up this thread I mentioned that I would be getting some more pictures together to high light my experience with this process so far.

The first pic is of the Wahkon Bay aqua fortis solution that I purchased then subsequently added enough iron material to to get the "dragons breath", this stuff has not been disturbed for a week.

This solution is thick, there is a considerable amount of surface tension when the dauber is inserted into the mix, still looks like rusty sludge.

Here is another piece of that same blank that I am finishing up.

Here here is what that piece looks like with the solution applied, does not take alot of juice to create a change of color.

Here are a couple pieces of that same blank, same juice, same length of time exposed to the juice. The color difference is a result of what stage the application of heat was applied.

Finaly got my book today

:grin:

 

[Lock Nut]

Anyone know if that book is still available and where to get it?

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

Yup,

You can get it here

 

[Lock Nut]

Thankyou Tom. I ordered one up.