White Oak

[GlennH]

Ammonia fuming is apparently very fast acting with white oak, perhaps because of the high tannin content in the wood. There's a lot of information about this technique and others in the antique rifle / repro community. Do google search for "gunstock & fuming" and you'll get a lot of interesting hits.

As I recall American Lutherie magazine had an article, or a series, involving ammonia fuming for coloring and bending curly maple and other hard woods about twenty years ago or so. I'll try to track it down.

[Dave Bagwill]

I think I'll forego the ammonia for this one. According to the book, I would need a very good commercial grade to begin with. The rest is not so difficult, having taken the correct precautions. a simple frame with panes of sheet plastic and a dish is about all that's needed.

That gunstock minwax looks good. What do you think of the gel stains?

[ken cierp]

I have only used the Wood Finish -- product and tested the crappy water borne stuff.