To those who refinished their AK furniture...

brentona

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What stain/dye/or combo did you use?
I am going to be taking possession of a Hungarian 63DS soon and am curious what colors people have achieved. Post pics too!
Thank you!
-Brent


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For me, it depends on the wood - laminate vs. hardwood, country of origin, commercial vs. surplus vs. rare vs. common, etc. It also depends on my overall plans for the rifle - BFPU, gloss black finish, etc.

What about you though? What do you like? Is this a Century build, and is the wood from the factory or has it already been refinished? Hungarians seem to favor the blonde finishes and I think they look best on these guns. If you're going for a darker finish, I've had good luck with the Rit dye & alcohol route (I have some rough "recipes" at home using blends of Cherry Red, Tangerine, and Dark Brown, if you're interested). I've also played around with Iodine stains, and have used straight Zinsser shellac (several coats), as well as Danish and Tung oil finishes. Lots of experimentation with mostly acceptable results. I usually seal all projects with poly, except when using shellac.

Also, if it's good Hungarian wood on there, consider leaving it as-is and picking up a spare furniture set to play around with. It's easy to stain light wood dark, but not so much the other way ... especially if you don't like your results.

Nice addition. Post pics!
 
For me, it depends on the wood - laminate vs. hardwood, country of origin, commercial vs. surplus vs. rare vs. common, etc. It also depends on my overall plans for the rifle - BFPU, gloss black finish, etc.

What about you though? What do you like? Is this a Century build, and is the wood from the factory or has it already been refinished? Hungarians seem to favor the blonde finishes and I think they look best on these guns. If you're going for a darker finish, I've had good luck with the Rit dye & alcohol route (I have some rough "recipes" at home using blends of Cherry Red, Tangerine, and Dark Brown, if you're interested). I've also played around with Iodine stains, and have used straight Zinsser shellac (several coats), as well as Danish and Tung oil finishes. Lots of experimentation with mostly acceptable results. I usually seal all projects with poly, except when using shellac.

Also, if it's good Hungarian wood on there, consider leaving it as-is and picking up a spare furniture set to play around with. It's easy to stain light wood dark, but not so much the other way ... especially if you don't like your results.

Nice addition. Post pics!

Thank you so much for that awesome reply. The guy I’m trading with supplied me this picture.
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I really think the wood will look better in person though. I just like planning ahead. If you are familiar with my posts there will for sure be some “porn” posted shortly. Either tonight or soon. I like shooting guns and cameras at guns!


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I'd just go to Lowes or Home Depot and look at wood stain colors. See what floats your boat.

There's a Minwax color called "Gunstock" that doesn't look bad at all- sort of a red/orange that jives pretty well with bakelite. Here's a pic of a set I did with it:

SPAHPjN.jpg


Sky is the limit though. There's tons of wood stains out there. Or, you can go with paint. Or, you can go with food coloring with a polycoat over top (works great on the bakelite/poly/resin/whatever furniture). Or, you can try oil like BLO.
 
I like shooting guns and cameras at guns!

I like your style! And nice AK, by the way. That furniture almost looks like it's been darkened a bit and possibly sealed, though maybe it's just the lighting. Would look even more rad with a few genuine tanker mags :cool: I think there may still be some for sale in the classifieds.
 
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I'd just go to Lowes or Home Depot and look at wood stain colors. See what floats your boat.

There's a Minwax color called "Gunstock" that doesn't look bad at all- sort of a red/orange that jives pretty well with bakelite. Here's a pic of a set I did with it:

SPAHPjN.jpg


Sky is the limit though. There's tons of wood stains out there. Or, you can go with paint. Or, you can go with food coloring with a polycoat over top (works great on the bakelite/poly/resin/whatever furniture). Or, you can try oil like BLO.
I use gunstock. I also put linseed oil on it after that.
 
Agreed. I'd leave it alone. It looks fantastic.

Now those knockoff Circle 10/"other" Radom I.O. mags, on the other hand...
 
But regarding colors...I have done red, green, black (which comes out as a translucent plum color), commie orange and variations of amber.

The Hungarian pieces I own have a burnt quality as if they were singed.
 
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Picked up the romaninan unfinished stock set at Lee's mags and dropped about 20$ at walmart for a can of cognac wood stain and a polyeurathane spray can. Sanded all the wood down with 120 grit and put 4 coats of stain and 4 coats of poly. I like the way it turned out.
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I have never tried it, but I know a guy that uses and red automatic transmission fluid. Looks pretty darn near to the commie red.
 
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