Wooden Stock finishing, has anyone tried the Japanese style of Shou Sugi Ban of wood burning and staining?

CW3 Kevin Storm — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 12:00:34 -0500

I have Finnish M39 mil surplus stock that was never issued. It is post war, I know it was never issued as it did not even have the holes for the sling bars, butt plate and other items that go on it. So the wood used in these is Artic Birch. It is a very weather resistant wood. Traditional stain is a combination of pine tar oil, Linseed oil, and Bitmus, this stuff is no longer used in Finland. I normally mix a 50/50 mix of PTO & LO and use that. I am curious if anyone has tried using the burning/sanding method on a stock and what results you came away with. Attached is an M39 I did previously with out burning, second rifle is a Finish M28-76.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2021 12:16 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 12:16:56 -0500

Nice Job. Looks good!

Response by Maj John Bell made Mar 9 at 2021 2:44 PM

Maj John Bell — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 14:44:53 -0500

I know a guy who makes stringed musical instruments for a lot of elite recording artists. He has a few examples of Shou Sugi Ban in his workshop, beautiful stuff. I've never tried the technique, but he told me the appearance is heavily dependent on the species of wood, the age it was harvested, was it bastard sawn, quarter sawn, or rift sawn, and the quality of the grain figure; the kind of the attention to detail you expect from any skilled practitioner of Japanese craftsmanship.

Any advice I offered would be nothing more than an uneducated guess on my part. I don't know that it is necessary, but I think you'd have to strip and sand the stock to bare wood. Is it worth it to completely remove the existing finish? And what does that type of "restoration" do to the value of what is probably considered a collector's piece? I'd talk to a historic arms collector first.

Response by Maj Robert Thornton made Mar 9 at 2021 4:43 PM

Maj Robert Thornton — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 16:43:28 -0500

Looks good. I found out years and years ago, I could install sheetrock, but I was also a Wood butcher. I, personally, wouldn't think of attempting what you did. Again nice job.

Response by SN Craig Ralston made Apr 23 at 2021 10:57 PM

SN Craig Ralston — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 22:57:19 -0400

I have not tried it on a stock, but I have done a lot of it in and around my house, shelves, planters etc. To achieve the proper burn (a matter of personal taste) actually takes some practice so it doesn't get to dark or not dark enough.