What's your favorite figured Maple finish?

[R.H.Clark]

I just bought a large flat rate box of figured Hard Maple.I am wondering about the best way to finish it out.How does Aqua Fortis work on this type figure? Anything else you like better?

Here is an example.I've got 21 blocks about like this.

http://

 

[Shaughnessy]

My favorite so far is the Muriatic Acid Recipe.....with a little transtint dye, but lots of formulas out there that bring out the curl. Larry

 

[NStricker]

Check out the various stains/dyes from Laurel Mountain Forge. They are popular with the muzzle loader builders, and those guys are usually pretty picky about the finish on their maple stocks.

 

[Wild Rose]

Aqua Fortis - whihc is really the dye and not the finish would work absolutley fantastic..
here's some highly figured exampls using AF followed by my own homemade perod style REAL boiled Linseed Oil varnish...(not the junk in the can sold by hardware stores)

Note the darker face on the left side piece is due to it not being properly neutralized after applying the AF - Sunlight (UV rays) will cause the reaction to continue for some time unless properly neutralized.

IMO NOTHING works like AF when applied right and the followed by A GOOD oil finish (commercial versions I like: Jim Cambers Stock Finish or Tried and True's Oil Varnish) to bring out the grain and chatoyance in figured maple and I have been finishing maple for better than 40 years.

Addendum: the AF can be tweaked in a couple of ways
1) Aply a good strong black tea solution just before applying the AF - it will enhance the difference between teh hard and soft areas, making the grain pop even more.
2) The final color can be tweaked if desired by using a LIGHT coat or two of leather dye, LMF, etc.

 

[Mungo Park]

BLO, boiled linseed oil, let it dry for about a week, then finish with your fav topping. Cheers Ron

 

[12345678910]

Aqua Fortis - whihc is really the dye and not the finish would work absolutely fantastic..

IMO NOTHING works like AF when applied right and the followed by A GOOD oil finish
(commercial versions I like:
Jim Cambers Stock Finish or
Tried and True's Oil Varnish[/B

Varnish Oil
http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=45105&cat=1,190,42942

Thanks for the info,

It's nice to find something available in Canada

 

[mostho]

I'm doing like this, an ancient and healtsafe recipe:

1) in a glass recipient I put 3/4 spoons of Padouk powder made by grinding/rasping this marvellous wood. Then I add some pure alcool, about a glass. This all sits for a couple of days or so.
Use this as tint for woods or leather. For woods is better.
You can obtain various ranges of hues form honey to orange to brownish.

The same recipe is okay also for ebony and other woods such ebony, and you can mix for different tints and hues.


After that several coats of nboiled linseed oil that gives also warmth.

And if you want to sell some of these 21 blocks....or you are interested for a trade... lemme know


Cheers!