Here's an idea, spalted beech stock.

[Gummage]

I know beech stocks can look a bit bland.
I also know, if beech (and some other species), are false spalted, by introducing it into a compost heap or bin for a month or so, then removing once happy with the effect, and air drying, possibly sealing with cellulose hardener, an easy process.
This can also be achieved by putting the wood and some well rotted compost, with some fresh rotting wood that shows spalting (plenty on the ground in the woods), into a plastic bag, and placing somewhere warm.
Could this be a thing methinks, sanded and stained to preference, one might achieve a most unique looking rifle, I might experiment.
For those not familiar with spalting here is an example, in the raw without a finish or sanding, straight out of my mill.
It would require the surface to be treated,as mentioned, to firm it up, but I have used this process to turn up, and machine, some very nice pieces.
Bonkers or worth a go?

 

[Redwill]

No reason why not,
I often turn spalted Beech, Sycamore on my wood lathe. Sand it thro the grits to 400 or even 600, Seal it and then apply finishes. Often use a Micro Crystalline wax for Bowls etc as this give a water repellant (light wetting only) finish and is resistant to finger marks. Need to let the Wax dry and give a rigorous polish to bring out a good shine.
With a decent amount of spalt it could make for a stunning stock but too much and the wood may become soft.
Be interesting to see a stock maker give it a go.

 

[wuggis72]

As a failed guitarist I've often wondered why some of the woods used for custom guitars don't crop up as guns stocks.

 

[2506sendero]

Spalted timber is used extensively for knife scales, and with spectacular results, but the wood always has to be stabilised before it is utilised, to avoid shrinkage - would this be needed also for a rifle stock?

 

[Diddy71]

If it wasn’t so lethal if you get it wrong I’d like to give a stock a facelift with fractal wood burning. I also played with Shou Sugi Ban on a walnut stock I had too, didn’t like the outcome with that!

 

[Gummage]

No reason why not,
I often turn spalted Beech, Sycamore on my wood lathe. Sand it thro the grits to 400 or even 600, Seal it and then apply finishes. Often use a Micro Crystalline wax for Bowls etc as this give a water repellant (light wetting only) finish and is resistant to finger marks. Need to let the Wax dry and give a rigorous polish to bring out a good shine.
With a decent amount of spalt it could make for a stunning stock but too much and the wood may become soft.
Be interesting to see a stock maker give it a go.

Absolutely agree, as a wood turner.
One can spalt wood by the 'artificial' method so it affects the surface rather than internal integrity under controlled conditions, so integrity is maintained if the form of the stock is already there methinks.
If it could be attempted, it might be a thing worth doing on a non commercial basis, maybe on a PCP, ( no recoil, no repetitive recoil stresses, I see no reason, done under a controlled process, it would be ok on a springer.

 

[Titanist]

Polyethylene Glycol otherwise known as PEG to stabilise the timber. As has been stated, used to good effect in knife handles

 

[Griddamus]

Looks interesting! Surely though, any type of wood *could* be used as a stock, but I guess some are better suited than others

 

[Neil54]

I wouldn't mind a spalted sycamore stock. I do like working with sycamore.

 

[Littlejon365]

Be interested if you do to see how it turns out. If it’s anything like the knife handles it could look superb

 

[Gummage]

I wouldn't mind a spalted sycamore stock. I do like working with sycamore.

Yes that would be rather nice, and it is a lovely wood to work with

 

[Gummage]

Polyethylene Glycol otherwise known as PEG to stabilise the timber. As has been stated, used to good effect in knife handles
View attachment 957994

Imagine that figuring in a rifle stock....

 

[Titanist]