Stain or No Stain?

[kselkhunter]

Hi All,

Working on one of the many gun related projects on my plate.  Refinishing an old Remington 788.  Already Duracoated the barrel and action.  Will glass bed the action screws and recoil lug, and free float the barrel.   I've stripped the old finish off the stock and sanded it down.   I've got one or two more sanding sessions, but here is a photo of it wetted down with warm water to give a glimpse of what it may look like when finish is applied as-is.   Finish will be with Tru-Oil. 

Looks like I have some grains that may still have some of the old stain that had penetrated deeply, or it's just naturally darker grains in the wood.  So am contemplating doing a 10% or 20% dilution of walnut stain to even it all out but not darken it too much.  Am also contemplating just finishing it as-is without staining.  Given how dark the wood is when dry, am pretty sure it's walnut.  Trying to decide so thought I'd put it to the forum for votes and input.

What to do ya'll think?  Votes for staining vs. finish as-is.

Thanks

[kselkhunter]

Attached is a photo of it "dry" without the water bath as a comparison.   System wouldn't let me load more than one photo for some reason....

[Jpmiller]

No stain. It will naturally darken as it ages it it sees much UV light. As a general rule I hate stains though so take that into consideration. I've not used tru oil but I also find that most of my oils leave it slightly "darker" than water does.

[Rem14]

I would not stain. Just use the Tru-Oil. Love that stuff!!!  Have used on many stocks , also on the bed of my 48 Ford  F-1.

[kselkhunter]

Thanks for the input folks. Good call on not staining. Here is photo with just one coat of tru oil.  Will put a few more coats on in the coming days.

[Magnum_Willys]

Classic ! Looks good.  Few more coats ?

[kselkhunter]

Classic ! Looks good.  Few more coats ?

Probably 4 more coats (one per day), and then let it sit a week and see how I like it.  And add more if needed.

It's actually darkened further since I took the photo now that the first coat of Tru Oil has absorbed in further.  Looks even better now. 

[Jpmiller]

That's why I like plain oil instead of stain. Looks beautiful and there's nothing artificial about the color. Not that it matters to anyone but me but I don't like knowing I changed anything I don't have to  keep us posted as you keep on

[kselkhunter]

That's why I like plain oil instead of stain. Looks beautiful and there's nothing artificial about the color. Not that it matters to anyone but me but I don't like knowing I changed anything I don't have to  keep us posted as you keep on

I've got a few more stocks that I will refinish in the next month.  I may give Tung Oil a try on one, as I like the look of that finish as well.  Tru Oil is just so much cheaper and is easy, I did it for this first stock refinish.   

[zwickeyman]

Good choice, its looking real good

[kselkhunter]

Photo after second Tru Oil coat.  Am thinking this will look great by coat 5.

[jackson7]

looks great now, want to see it with the 5 coats.

[lokidog]

Looks great, voted no stain before seeing the photos. I love the look of true oil as well. Need to get some for my wooden guns.

[Dan-o]

Looks great

[kselkhunter]

Woke up this morning and wet sanded the third coat in. And just hand rubbed the 4th coat in hard with my thumb. Attached photo is completion of 4th coat. Still wet so it's  shiny. Will let this coat dry for 24 hours and see what it looks like tomorrow.