I don't mean to be evasive or sound secretive, but I've been finishing hardwood (gunstocks and furniture) for more than 60 years. I approach each project by intuition. So here's the thumbnail description of what I did to the rubberwood stock.Fran49829 wrote:Did you use a sealer over the stain and if so what?
I stripped the original finish with the dangerous, old-fashioned stuff (methylene chloride) and washed the wood in soap and water. When thoroughly dry I reshaped it (with a plane) so the wood surfaces would be flush with the receiver. I sanded it with 150-220-320-400-grit sandpaper. I then applied the Fiebing's stain.
After the stain dried, I liberally applied boiled linseed oil, rubbed it in with the heel of my hand, and repeated the process several times over the period of a week. I let it cure (polymerize) for about another week. Then I rubbed it down to almost a polish with 000 steel wool.
I use General Finishes Armor-Seal (a tung oil/urethane rubbing varnish) to both seal the wood and fill the pores. As I've implied, I do this by feel. I apply very thin coat with my finger tip and rub it in with the heel of my hand till it feels tacky. I stop, wait 12 hours or so and repeat. Then, using a grey abrasive pad (Scotch Brite or equivalent) I rub it down to bare wood. I repeat the two coats, rub down till I feel it's done. I give it a final rub down with 0000 steel wool.
Yes, this is tedious. But, hey, I'm 77. I've been trying to master this technique since I was a teenager. I think I'm almost there.
Edit: The object is to have the finish in the wood, not on the wood.