To Strip or Not To Strip

[Bear-of-Grayling]

I like them both, bottom one is very nice but could live with the middle ones finish also.

That’s my opinion also. And my wife says “you don’t want them to look alike anyway.” Good point.

 

[Uglyjohn]

Nice coat of rattle can. Problem solved.

 

[beerthief]

This is the question. Here are three examples. Top one is a factory finished Beechwood stock. Almost looks pickled. No color but a nice matte finish. I did strip it and it’s now the bottom one. Just received a new one (middle). They finally added some color to the wood. Much better. This particular piece of Beechwood even has some figure. I like it but don’t love it. The figure would be greatly enhanced with a strip and refinish. So the question is: Strip it or Leave it. Thank you.View attachment 555220

no reason you cant duplicate the bottom one again , it will come out different as it is a different piece of wood . Saw a "job" at the show Saturday . the guy wrapped wire around the stock and "waved "a torch across the wood . interesting .

 

[Bear-of-Grayling]

no reason you cant duplicate the bottom one again , it will come out different as it is a different piece of wood . Saw a "job" at the show Saturday . the guy wrapped wire around the stock and "waved "a torch across the wood . interesting .

I have done the wire/torch process on black powder rifles. Did this Crosman 760. The wire can scar the wood. It’s a gamble.

 

[6gun]

Nothing gets a thread derailed faster than finishing a gunstock or is a R7 enough power to hunt with.

Finishing seems scary, it's not and it is redoable many times before you sand your stock away.

 

[SpiralGroove]

Hey BOG,
Your strip stain of beach and other processes are pretty much the best handling of beech I’ve seen.
I had a Stormrider years ago with nice grain and hit it with a honey, poly one-step finish, but I prefer the bottom pic with better grain popping out.

- Still working on my Fuming tent and will Fume a few beech stock using ammonia to bring out the nice grain structure of the wood.

 

[A.G.R]

Finishing seems scary, it's not and it is redlable many times before you sand your stock away.

I did a pine wood derby car once and stayed in a Holliday Inn last night

 

[NEDan]

I like the bottom one.