What are the best stains to use on limb lams? Water or alcohol based, saw some Lockwood Dye that was to be mixed with water can this be mixed with alcohol instead. Want something that will still glue with smooth on.

And after staining do you hand sand with 50 grit to knock down and fiber that lifted?

Thanks
Cory

Cory,

Sure am glad you ask this question. I've got some cross grain birdseye maple veneers that when held right in the light look like they have quilting in them. I'd sure like to see how they look stained.

Never delt with staining veneers and have no idea how to go about it.

Troy

The first bow I build was with curly maple veneers. I stained them with regular minwax stain then glued it up the fallowing day. Everything turned out good but wish I would have used a lighter stain. I didn't sand it or anything just let it dry.

That being said I since bought some liquid dye at the local woodcraft store that you mix with alcohol. Going to try that on the Kentucky coffee wood veneers I got from troy.

Those Coffeewood veneers sure did look good when I wiped them with Denatured Alcohol. Nice coffee with cream color. Unless your just wanting somethng darker I'd consider going ah-la-natural.

Troy

I use trans tint dyes and alcohol- the alcohol flashes off quickly and doesn't curl the lams- water based dyes tend to raise the grain and curl the lams- alot of water based powders can be used with alcohol. Either will work well- just stay away from oil based products. The stained lams will come out darker once you put the glue on them.

What David said above use alcohol stains   makes em pop

Troy I like how they look too just want to darken them a bit to help the grain pop a little bit more. Honestly I'm still on the fence about it. Maybe one set natural and one set darkened a bit....... time will tell

Troy, to really bring out the curl in Curly Maple use Aquafortis from "Track of the Wolf" It's what the old timers used on their Kentucky Long Rifles.  It really brings new meaning to the word pop out the grain.

For regular stains use alchol based.  It dries quickly and doesn't leave as much "fur" on the wood.  I use Fiebing leather dies.

Mike,

Been around a boat load of smokepoles and often wondered what the gunsmiths used on their stocks to make the stand out so much.

Thanks for the info.

Troy

use dye not stain

Troy,
The Birch on the back and belly of this bow were destined to be cores, I could tell there was a tad of curl but in my estimation it was pretty plain.  I tested the Aquafortis on it and this is how it turned out.  

Hot dang!!! Now that looks pretty darn good. Birch is not known for that kind of look.

Troy

Killer

Hey 7 Lakes  is there anything special you have to do to get the lam ready for glue up with that auqafortis?

Cory

I like it.  I like it alot.  Let me save up a few pennies and I'll get another blank.

I don't do anything special to get the lams ready.  I do wait a day after wiping it on before glue up, just to make sure everything is dry.