Steaming a stock and stain problem...... Advice please

[vbull]

Strange problem I've encountered. I'm no expert but have done a few stocks in my time so yesterday was surprised when I encountered something I've not come across before. After steaming the dents out of a stock and rubbing down with 250 grit then wiping the stock down with spirit I then applied the stain (water based CCL) and it refused to take in certain areas, just would not penetrate. The timber in these areas has a slightly different texture, it looks almost shiny or polished and this texture seems to run deep. I rubbed down these areas again but still the stain didn't take, as I expected due to this strange texture still being there. These areas I think are possibly where most of the dents were so do you guys know if there is such a thing as over steaming, whereby the texture of the wood changes and the grain goes so tight the stain can't penetrate ? I can't think of what else this could be as there is no sign of oil or grease which has penetrated the wood, it's just really weird. I've now got the job of trying to remove the stain in the areas where it took, probably going to have to use wood bleach or something as I can't remove any more wood in areas like where the recoil pad goes, and then try and open the grain somehow on these shiny places. Not sure exactly what the wood is, at first it looked like walnut but I now think it could be maple. Any advice will be appreciated.

[Thegreg]

Could just be areas of really dense grain that won't absorb the stain. On a beech stock sometimes there are small "flecks" in the wood which will just not take colour. I think manufacturers overcame this by spraying the beech stocks with a stained lacquer which just sits on the surface like paint. I'd suggest going to an oil/solvent based stain which always penetrate better.

Cheers
Greg

[vbull]

Can you recommend an oil based stain Greg ?

[Telephonepete]

Can you recommend an oil based stain Greg ?

i sometimes use water based. may i ask why that was your first choice as oil and spirit are easier options.

[vbull]

It's what I've used for years with quite good results. Had to stain the wood as it was very pale.

[fozzy45]

Me and my best mate have had this problem before. We put it down to water based stain not able to penetrate through anything under the surface. This didn't seem to happen with solvent based stains. If I were you I would sand it back down and re-do with solvent based stain.
Fozzy

[Telephonepete]

It's what I've used for years with quite good results. Had to stain the wood as it was very pale.

yes but as you know water based raises the grain and you have to sand down again'. with oil and spirit far less so you dont remove any stain. if going for a certain affect i sometimes use water based stain.