Water transfer finish on shotgun stock?

MakeMyDay · February 9, 2011, 08:30 PM

Has anyone experienced getting their wood stock finished with a water transfer pattern...especially something like an exotic burl maple? Looks like a feasible way to improve the look of a plain looking walnut stock!

zippy13 · February 9, 2011, 08:51 PM

Some of the factory stocks have "enhanced" wood grain. I don't know the process. Some stock makers/finishers are know use faux finish techniques to improve stock appearance; but, they work with the existing grain. I'm not sure you could do that with a water transfer process.

oneounceload · February 9, 2011, 09:09 PM

IIRC, Beretta's "enhanced grain" is something akin to using a magic marker to highlight the grain patterns - albeit in a more rapidly mechanical production system - as opposed to a "wrap". The wood looks good, but it can be fragile as it comes to cleaning

zippy13 · February 9, 2011, 11:02 PM

I believe you're correct, 1-oz, I recall reading something about the Beretta process "doubling" the natural grain.

Rugerismisticness · February 10, 2011, 05:04 AM

Beretta's Xtra Grain finish (found on most 391s, the high end ones have real figured wood and the low end ones have a lower grade of wood) is just a sticker that gets glued to the wood (a low grade of walnut sits underneath).

February 9, 2011, 08:30 PM	#1
MakeMyDay Member Join Date: February 24, 2001 Location: SCentralLA Posts: 46	Water transfer finish on shotgun stock? Has anyone experienced getting their wood stock finished with a water transfer pattern...especially something like an exotic burl maple? Looks like a feasible way to improve the look of a plain looking walnut stock! __________________ MakeMyDay

February 9, 2011, 08:51 PM	#2
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Some of the factory stocks have "enhanced" wood grain. I don't know the process. Some stock makers/finishers are know use faux finish techniques to improve stock appearance; but, they work with the existing grain. I'm not sure you could do that with a water transfer process.

February 9, 2011, 09:09 PM	#3
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	IIRC, Beretta's "enhanced grain" is something akin to using a magic marker to highlight the grain patterns - albeit in a more rapidly mechanical production system - as opposed to a "wrap". The wood looks good, but it can be fragile as it comes to cleaning

February 9, 2011, 11:02 PM	#4
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	I believe you're correct, 1-oz, I recall reading something about the Beretta process "doubling" the natural grain.

February 10, 2011, 05:04 AM	#5
Rugerismisticness Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2010 Posts: 909	Beretta's Xtra Grain finish (found on most 391s, the high end ones have real figured wood and the low end ones have a lower grade of wood) is just a sticker that gets glued to the wood (a low grade of walnut sits underneath).