Question about darking a wood grip

[joec]

I have to 1873 Colt replicas one by Uberti the other a Armi San Marco. Now I would like to darken the wood grip on the ASM to close if not match the Uberti walnut grip. The ASM has a very nice grain pattern but is a tan color rather than the rich color of the Uberti. So my question is what method and material is best to get this finish on the Uberti grips?

[Bruce H.]

Go to Lowes or Home Depot and purchase some Minwax stain of the color you want.  They have different shades of walnut.  Sand the grip with fine grit sand paper, wipe with a tack rag and stain according to the directions on the can.  If the first coat isn't dark enough, give it another coat.   After you are done staining, use Minwax Paste Finishing Wax to shine it up.   I believe that the Finishing Wax is just Carnuba wax.   That is what Hogue uses for the finish on their wood grips.  I use the Paste Finishing Wax on my grips, it does not give as shiny an appearance as something like Tru-oil,  but I like the wax finish better.   I use the Paste Wax to make the factory wood grips on my Ruger SA's look good too.

[joec]

I have the Min Wax Paste now so I guess I will just pick up the right shade of walnut then and thanks. How fine a sandpaper for best results and that I have plenty of on hand from very course to ultra fine.

[Bruce H.]

I usually like to use varying grits, depending on how much finish I need to take off.   I would start with a 320 grit and then finish with a 600 or 800 grit to remove any scratches.    Lowes doesn't carry any sandpaper with a grit finer than 320, so you will have to go to Ace Hardware or an Auto Body Supply Shop to find the 600 or 800 grit paper.   320 grit will leave some minor scratches.   So, it will look best if finished with the 600 or 800 grit sandpaper.  Make sure you get at least a couple of sheets of the 600 or 800 grit paper, because it wears out quick.

[joec]

Thanks again Bruce and I will do it this weekend. It won't take a lot of sanding as the grip fits the gun fine so I just need to take the finish off and replace it.

[Major 2]

If your just removing the finish ..I use water soluable stripper & 0000 Steel wool
will not effect the the fit and will remove finish into the pores ( which you need to get the stain to penatrate )
Then neutralize with cool water allow to mostly dry and wisker again with dry 0000 Steel wool.
Stain to your taste

[joec]

If your just removing the finish ..I use water soluable stripper & 0000 Steel wool
will not effect the the fit and will remove finish into the pores ( which you need to get the stain to penatrate )
Then neutralize with cool water allow to mostly dry and wisker again with dry 0000 Steel wool.
Stain to your taste

Thanks Major that is probably the best way since the grips fit perfectly now.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

  A real simple way to do this is put your wood grips in a glass jar, then put enough Acetone to allow them to soak finished side down in the Acetone, I leave mine in for 24 hours, after that anything left on the wood/grips can easily be pushed or scraped off with your finger nail, there is no lose to the shape of the grip, and after they dry, can be finished the way you want, I like to finish mine in Arrowoil, here is a picture of how mine came out. The Arrowoil will give you a natural oil finish with a smooth satin look to it, yet this finish gives you a great surface to grip. You can darken the wood by methods mentioned above by others, but if you want a real dark walnut color, try some Fiebings Dark brown spirit dye, this is leather dye, but can be used for wood also, it will give you a real nice darn walnut brown, but if you use this , only put on light coats until you feel you have the color you want, let it dry completely, then wipe off any powder that might be left from the dye, then do your finish.

       tEN wOLVES  

[joec]

Could not match the Uberti Walnut grip color but did get a nice rich walnut color rather than the blond color it had. Later I might do the Uberti's grip like I did this one. Oh and the water soluble paint remove worked great followed by 0000 steel wool. I will wax them with the paste wax also made by Min Wax tomorrow after it dries completely.