GTA
All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => European/Asian Air Gun Gates => German AirGun Gate => Topic started by: atriot on May 27, 2023, 10:42:41 PM
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Question for the community about Weihrauch stocks. I have a HW35 on the way which has a rather plain and pale beech stock. Curious if the colour tends to darken up over time? Whether through use or the application of oils? I've seen a lot of variation in colour for Weihrauch stocks and would like to know if it's a matter of luck of the draw with wood or if there's something I should be doing...?
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Luck of the draw...
However, if you do not like it I would suggest a strip and new finish. Paint stripper and plastic wrap for awhile then a very rough abrasive pad and scrub. Use fine tooks for the grooves and channels and checkering. Clean with alcohol or vinegar. Sand paper or sanding blocks, work up to minimum of 220. 400+ grit is better, much better.
I like using ARH Royal London oil. Others like other finishes. Wipe on Poly is another good option. Stain for color or not?
Of course all of the above is done with the action removed and wearing gloves outside. ;)
-Y
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Question for the community about Weihrauch stocks. I have a HW35 on the way which has a rather plain and pale beech stock. Curious if the colour tends to darken up over time? Whether through use or the application of oils? I've seen a lot of variation in colour for Weihrauch stocks and would like to know if it's a matter of luck of the draw with wood or if there's something I should be doing...?
Hey SSK,
While Beech wood doesn't look like much it's actually pretty good functional, dense wood for stock material.
Problem is Beech is very hard to refinish and have it look near what Weihrauch has already done. Yogi's right, luck of the draw on Beech, that's why I always spend another $50 and buy the HW35E from Krale. Don't even try to stain unless you're an experienced wood worker with a good Beech Wood/stain track record.
Not to sound pessimistic, but the stock likely won't look better after 100 hours of your time :P.
As Paul McCartney said "Let it Be"......
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What Kirk said.
Also, with beech, one should be aware that unstained beech has a horrid Caucasian skin / overcooked salmon color to it. Hence the need to "walnutize" it.
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For whatever my opinion is worth, it looks very nice as is! And I can confirm that beech is hard to re-finish.
Pale wood is very much a German tradition, even on walnut guns; the European species of walnut is much different than the black walnut that grows here. Typical walnut on an HW 35 from the 1960's:
(https://i.postimg.cc/Bvy870d9/8484052-E-3-C9-D-4851-91-B7-8-F6657-E7887-C.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Here's a couple of beech Diana stocks from the 1950's for comparison. These have a light stain that was going for the Euro walnut look:
(https://i.postimg.cc/6QDsVswR/9-AA9-C7-CE-97-FE-4-FDB-BF5-A-DFCA2-D27-C6-EB.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/McbrxFnK)
Back in the day, HW stained their beech stocks very dark, which I guess was their idea of black walnut? To me it's not attractive at all - here's an early-60's HW 55. Your new toy looks great in comparison!
(https://i.postimg.cc/Hk1t69J2/55-B-0163737-S.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/PPKZxZQp)
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Decades old finished beech, with proper patina, can be quite charming, agreed. I was describing the realities of sanding a beechwood stock down to bare, fresh wood.
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Appreciate the guidance everyone. I'll learn to live with it (but will also post a WTB ad to see if there's a nicer stock out there).
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HW95L that is about 5 years old. Beech stock is beautiful IMHO & I use Renaissance wax on it.
(https://i.imgur.com/iJ647Wsh.jpg)
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This is what a stripped Weihrauch Beech stock looks like. It's got no color to it at all. Worse Beech doesn't take stain well. It ALWAYS looks blotchy. I believe the factory sprays on a tinted lacquer clear. After several failed attempts with a conventional stain or dye I tried to duplicate the spray finish with this spay. It never got as dark as pictured on the can. Even after several coats.
https://www.amazon.com/Minwax-3147000000-Polyshades-Polyurethane-Classic/dp/B00EQYI2JM/ref=asc_df_B00EQYI1TI?tag=bngsmtphsnus-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80470624769030&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=m&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584070153360620&psc=1&th=1 (https://www.amazon.com/Minwax-3147000000-Polyshades-Polyurethane-Classic/dp/B00EQYI2JM/ref=asc_df_B00EQYI1TI?tag=bngsmtphsnus-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80470624769030&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=m&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584070153360620&psc=1&th=1)
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There are ways to do beech. Go buy some cheap beech ballusters and practice some techniques until you get the color you want.
(http://)
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SSK - Here are the only things I would try - if you really want to:
https://www.airgunnation.com/threads/enhancing-a-beechwood-beech-gun-stock.1274906/ (https://www.airgunnation.com/threads/enhancing-a-beechwood-beech-gun-stock.1274906/)
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Honestly, I wouldn’t worry about getting a super light or blondish stained Weihrauch. I think they lighten up the pictures in advertisements to show off the gun a bit more. Given time and use,…including wiping down with remoil or ballistic, the grain will start to pierce through the translucent coating/finish they seem to apply at the factory. Every HW I have showed this characteristic except for the .22 walnut 35E. But when I look at the underside of my beech HW’s and see where I have worn through the finish with use, the grain really jumps out and it is a very nice looking wood that pleases the eye. You can also use this as a gauge of what rifles you shoot more than others😉. Having a 35, you will have a heirloom quality rifle that will bring you pride and satisfaction in your ownership. An accuracy that will tickle you to the core!!! You made a fine choice in purchasing the Weihrauch HW35 😁
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HW95L that is about 5 years old. Beech stock is beautiful IMHO & I use Renaissance wax on it.
(https://i.imgur.com/iJ647Wsh.jpg)
That's a stunner, thanks for sharing Deerstalker!
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SSK - Here are the only things I would try - if you really want to:
Helpful, I think I will give it a go... Alternatively, I do a fair bit of woodwork and may make a new stock.
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SSK - Here are the only things I would try - if you really want to:
https://www.airgunnation.com/threads/enhancing-a-beechwood-beech-gun-stock.1274906/ (https://www.airgunnation.com/threads/enhancing-a-beechwood-beech-gun-stock.1274906/)
Yes, beech is hard to stain. Either use a pre-stain or the anilin water dyes. The ARH Royal London Oil is slightly amber in color. Easy to use and beautiful finish.
Look-up some of Air Rifle Headquarter's custom stocks. 8) ;D
-Y
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SSK - Here are the only things I would try - if you really want to:
Helpful, I think I will give it a go... Alternatively, I do a fair bit of woodwork and may make a new stock.
The hardest part is the inletting. Couple of post here to show how others have done it manually. Measure 20 times, cut/router once.
If you have a replicator much easier. Some people use Boyd stock blanks and inlet them themselves.
https://www.calicohardwoods.com/wood_types.php (https://www.calicohardwoods.com/wood_types.php)
-Y
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I agree with TJK, I would not even worry about the color! ::)
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I soaked wire wool in vinegar, plus a tea bag. This produced the dark stain.
You then treat it with the age old mix of one thirds vinegar, boiled linseed oil, and methylated spirits. Cabinet makers use this formula to age beech with a natural hue.
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We in the states call that denatured alcohol
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None of the options suggested above look any better than the original finish already on the HW35 (just another unsolicited opinion).
If the idea is to just darken it , something like this might be worth a try as it claims to work on sealed woods -https://www.amazon.com/Old-English-Scratch-Cover-Polish/dp/B0063KFJHK
Watched some custom English gunmaker video of getting mirror finish on stocks just by rubbing oils with bare hand (hours and hours of work)
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Just refinished this BSA Stutzen stock. Same beach wood as Weihrauch. Duplicates original finish. I'm better at finishing than taking pictures!
(http://)
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WOW!!
Nice job Karl!
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Thank you, for some reason the sheen only appears in the center of the pictures. I'll try to take better pics later. It's hard to get the light right to prevent glare
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That looks Excellent! Did you strip it down to bare wood?
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I'd like to see it assembled when you do.
Love the look of a Stutzen.
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Just refinished this BSA Stutzen stock. Same beach wood as Weihrauch. Duplicates original finish. I'm better at finishing than taking pictures!
(http://)
Karl,
Great job! I love the wine color. :-*
But as you know no 2 pieces of wood are the same. But having refinished a few stocks, I would have no hesitation. If you think it looks nice now, wait till I am finished...lol ;D
-Y
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Beech is not hard to finish— just hard to make it look like walnut or something other than beech! I agree that the company finish is pretty good. Looks decent. I have seen Maple stocks tinted with a torch to get an unusual finish. Maple, like beech, often doesn’t stain well. One option I have used for maple is to use a gel stain. They are used on fiberglas doors to make them look like wood. I used gel stain on a hard rock Maple table and it looks good. Normal oil stains just did nothing-wouldn’t absorb and darken at all. Good luck.
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To me the worst thing is some factory finishes soak into beech and it's hard to get it sanded out. Especially end grains. That sometimes determines what method I use to refinish
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Problem solved, I was able to order a HW35E walnut stock from Krale. All sorted now and looking great!
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Problem solved, I was able to order a HW35E walnut stock from Krale. All sorted now and looking great!
LOL! You took the easy way out! Congratulations!
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Problem solved, I was able to order a HW35E walnut stock from Krale. All sorted now and looking great!
I hope you will post pictures of both factory stock and the E walnut stock with the action installed with each. If you don’t mind my asking, what was the price of the walnut stock?