Curly / Figured Maple with Jim & Lorie

We got some extraordinary maple in the shop and Jim shows some of it off while he is discussing the nature of curly wood, and what cares we take to turn it into gorgeous stocks.
Lorie shows a quick tutorial on how to finish curly maple to make the figure pop with iron nitrate stain and Tried and True varnish.
Iron nitrate & dye stains: • Testing Various Stains...
Staining & finishing WR: • Staining and Finishing...
Stock sand- along: • Stock Sand-Along with ...
Kit class: • Sights-Employee Kibler...

[@kmcmichael]

Glad y’all are back in the video business! That is the best example of the heat induced color change I have seen filmed.

[@kiblerjim]

Thanks! Lorie did a great job

[@mr.thickey3959]

“Ach du lieber, mein schatz”! The most wonderful explanation on gunstock wood I’ve ever seen! My heart sank with “WOOD LUST”!!! This is why I love muzzleloaders, because they are gorgeous to look at & to hold, let alone shoot! Our hands are made to hold objects like these! If the gun isn’t “PURDY”, I ain’t interested!! To heck with these lousy lookin’ “black guns”, although they do have their excellent practicality (defense!). The gorgeous gorgeous curl & finish on your practice piece was like seeing HEAVEN! I own two very beautiful muzzleloaders; a .58 Hawken caplock halfstock in very nice Curly Maple (custom made in 1968 by Andy Fautheree) & an even more gorgeous Curly “Tiger” (?) Maple, .54 fullstock flintlock (custom made, fully carved, by Monte Mandarino, in about 1973; 1793 John Philip Beck Lancaster style), my most valued material possessions (outside of my wife & kids!!!)! Why I’m so “obcessed” with the beauty of these guns is a mystery, a love I’ve had ever since I can remember! My passion for muzzleloaders started with the Colt C&B revolvers, the 1860 Colt .44 Army being the most beautiful handgun ever designed (the 1851 Colt .36 Navy too!). I’ve seen your name & channel many times, but need to enjoy watching more of them to get a feel of who you are! I will now PROUDLY SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR CHANNEL!!! Wish I knew if you were SAVED, BORN AGAIN CHRISTIANS in JESUS CHRIST! I’d love ya even more!!! “Gesundheit” und pass da LUTEFISK poleaze!!!

[@martinm3474]

Lutefisk, the butter carrier for the Angles.

[@tropifiori]

Jim I bought a woods runner in highly figured Maple. It was a second ( though I don’t see where defect is). It is a gorgeous piece of wood. I am a cabinet maker and don’t recall ever working a piece of wood so pretty. Thanks Frank

[@stevenmoss5190]

I'm really impressed with all your videos, it's so nice that someone has come along to be caring and passionate with what they do to help us novice gun builders! I'm going to be ordering one of your new carved stock gun kits ! Thank you Jim and Lori for all your help!!!

[@kiblerjim]

Thank you so much for your nice comment. We appreciate it and let us know if we can help you out.

[@frankhughes5702]

God bless you and your family and keep up the good work!! It's very heartwarming to have quality gun builders in the USA like yourself.

[@kiblerjim]

Thanks for the kind words

[@hd99softail69]

Very informative...excellent video and AMAZING pieces of maple !

[@chipsterb4946]

When I look at that maple slab, I see many guitar necks… *beautiful* guitar necks. The size of some of those slabs is really impressive. Most people don’t understand just how big a tree needs to be to yield slabs like these.

[@jimkibler786]

It’s funny. We compete with guitar builders for curly maple, so they are the enemy!

[@nutrinutbob]

Well now I learned some worthwhile things today! I have a well aged curly maple blank I believe came from Flaig's in the 1950s. It's roughed out to fit a Norwegian Krag, and I happen to have a barreled action in .243. I think the parts might need to get together!

[@DARIVSARCHITECTVS]

WOW that finished just POPPED with just the first application of linseed oil! Amazing!

[@kiblerjim]

Thank you so much. The product that we used is called "Tried and True varnish oil". It is a much more refind oil than plain linseed.

[@DARIVSARCHITECTVS]

@@kiblerjim Definitely better than linseed alone, Jim. The contrast of that wood is fantastic.

[@porschmn167]

As mentioned in the comments, great video on the explanation of the woods and their characteristics and great video on the staining process and the fantastic results. Great job and thanks Jim & Lorie.

[@kiblerjim]

Thank you!

[@shrimuyopa8117]

Thanks for sharing. Honestly the finished product is absolutely stunning!

[@kiblerjim]

You're welcome! we are glad you like it!

[@D5quared91]

So glad to see a new video from the Kibler’s. Love you both and your rifles!

[@kiblerjim]

We will get Katherine in a video someday too and maybe some of the other employees who aren't too camera shy

[@nickhenson2148]

Thank you so much for getting mine upgraded to extra fancy maple and shipping it! Looking forward to receiving it. Great video!

[@kiblerjim]

Thanks for the purchase! That was a killer piece of wood that you are getting

[@rickyburton4642]

Thank you both for sharing your information with us. That’s good to know . I can’t wait to get another rifle from you , they are just beautiful!

[@kiblerjim]

Thanks for your business and support, Ricky!

[@TS-nb9ko]

Great video.we have a lot of maple on our ground.now maybe I can find some curly.thanks to you jim.i appreciate that very much.thanks

[@kiblerjim]

Very welcome

[@s9plus20]

Thanks for sharing!!! I bet a guitar would look fantastic with this finish!

[@kenmartin9106]

Have seen this curling when splitting fire wood didn't know what it was learn something new every day

[@flyingwoodshop1545]

Thanks for the great overview! You really do some quality work!

[@kiblerjim]

Much appreciated!

[@Peter-od7op]

Love the vdo. On my 2nd smr build. Was great seeing all the wood. Also seeing lori we chat on phone but nice to see you. I think kibler kits are the best out there.

[@kiblerjim]

Thanks!

[@alanparadis5061]

I've watched this video at least 3 times lol I love it! I can't wait to start building my Colonial longrifle from Kiblers longrifles!

[@kiblerjim]

so glad you enjoyed it! thank you for your business!

[@deannakoa3]

Yasssssss please I need one of these in my life ....Just Gorgeous

[@ericd.7592]

Nice explanation, thank you ! Greetings from France 🇫🇷

[@kiblerjim]

You are welcome!

[@stacydrain9613]

Is Historical reacting, Popular in Europe in England?

[@ericd.7592]

@@stacydrain9613 Here, there are still black powder shooters. I think that most of them are pistol users. About rifles, most popular are Gibbs, Whitworth, Mortimer, etc. I’ve never seen a American long rifle for real but I would like to 😉

[@thatsthewayitgoes9]

Thanks Lorie & Jim

[@jeffbrooke4892]

Like the straw analogy. I never thought of it that way and it makes total sense.

[@dougmoore5252]

Thank you Sir, very interesting different types of stock wood.

[@jackanders9545]

Even your doorway molding is curly . Great video!

[@johnvaness8445]

Thanks for the great video. Nice finish work by Lori. That was a Fabulous piece of wood, too bad it failed.

[@kiblerjim]

It was a complete bummer that it was destroyed but we tried to make the best of it with the video.

[@TheModernDayMountainMan]

This is probably the most in-depth discussion on curly maple stocks I've ever had the pleasure of viewing. I really enjoyed this video. I've made stocks for modern rifles from walnut, and now I've got the curly maple bug. My next Hawken project will be from curly maple. Thanks for the video!

[@kiblerjim]

I'm happy to hear the video was helpful, we appreciate your support!

[@TheModernDayMountainMan]

@@kiblerjim it sure was! Keep up the good work! Looking forward to seeing more!

[@jerrycarnley7673]

I would give 2 thumbs up (or more) if they would let me. Stunningly beautiful. Thanks for posting!

[@kiblerjim]

Thank you for the compliment Jerry!

[@tropocal2343]

*Thanks for sharing your expertise.* *Thumbs up # 742*

[@rayfoster6980]

Exelent explanation, now I understand the grain figure. Thanks.

[@kiblerjim]

Glad it was helpful!

[@chriscoogan8090]

Beutiful work!

[@dn2817]

I have this exotic looking piece of figured Alaskan yellow cedar with stripes and curls. It is naturally in a fish shape and was sanded smooth with all sides being live edged, basically. 8’ long by 4’ on the thicker end and 18” on the thinner end. It is very light weight. I’m pretty sure its stable and must have sat in the forrest for a long time, drying/ curing. It just looks incredible, sort of like stripped maple that was given a reddish finish. Found it at a yard sale & they barely wanted any $ for it as long as I promised to appreciate it for what it was... her deceased father had collected and sanded/ lightly lacquered it. I have it hanging in my living room & it always “wows” my guests

[@hkguitar1984]

Very Interesting, thank you for taking the time to explain and then demonstrate your skills, beautiful gun stocks for sure. I found it interesting how the different ways of Milling the board can change the Chatoyance. I'm particularly interested in the use of the iron nitrate in conjunction with heat, I have a 4A Flamed Maple guitar neck I will be finishing and may give this process a try. Traditionally (for guitar necks) it has been my understanding that a darker dye coat is applied and then sanded back and then a finish coat applied, this will produce a similar appearance as the iron nitrate, only (IMO) no where near as beautiful.

[@richardpancake1487]

Very interesting and informative video.

[@kiblerjim]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@scottdahlberg4890]

Now that is beautiful.

[@kiblerjim]

Thank you Scott!

[@shrugger1]

Bought a Colonial premium a couple months ago. Totally fire maple curl. Love it! I really need to get back to work on it though.

[@kiblerjim]

Thanks for the purchase--we are so happy you love the kit

[@davidwhiren817]

Mr. Kibler & his wife , do us all a great service with their talks & experiments on gunstock wood & how to enhance its appearance with the finished product !!!

[@kiblerjim]

Thank you! We are happy to hear that you enjoy our products.

[@ndmike]

Really good to see a video from you guys! I know you've been crazy busy but please continue with some videos!

[@kiblerjim]

We will! Yes, we have been crazy busy but we are going to work hard to get out more videos for you all

[@ndmike]

@@kiblerjim Perfect! Thank you!

[@donutdan1508]

When looking at a flat curly board or blank it's hard to understand what's going on 3 dimensionally. That split piece you showed really helps to understand how the figure is created. Very cool. Thanks Dan

[@kiblerjim]

Thank you!

[@StonyRC]

BEAUTIFUL finish. It's such a shame that we cannot get Kibler Longrifles here in the UK. I'd LOVE to build one.

[@kenfochtman8698]

Man did that turn out nice!

[@kiblerjim]

Thank you!!

[@577bluegrass]

Beautiful!

[@kiblerjim]

Thank you!

[@madmaxx5612]

Absolutely awesome

[@kiblerjim]

Thank you!

[@allenpippin3799]

Another nice video I am thinking seriously about ordering one of the mountain rifle kits.

[@kiblerjim]

I seriously think you should

[@allenjones4949]

Amazing! Thanks so much.

[@mrdinme.4768]

That was great! Are you going to do a Woodsrunner vid? I know you folks are very busy, but could you possibly also show the stains, iron nitrate on walnut, cherry? Thank you so much!

[@jackblackpowderprepper4940]

Nice looking finish.

[@kiblerjim]

Thanks 👍

[@jackblackpowderprepper4940]

@@kiblerjim So I watched a couple of your videos on this subject and have finished a rifle and pistol, (imports) that turned out absolutely spectacular. I wanted to get the process down or not on a 2 or 3 hundred dollar kit before I purchased a rifle from you. You're craftsmanship and attention to detail is unparalleled. Beautiful works of art.

[@martinm3474]

Hello from Kansas City, Missouri: I will be calling about that piece that had split off and had the ripples running on its face. I am doing some woodworking in my first retirement and that piece would be good fun.

[@kiblerjim]

Thanks for the message but that piece is not for sale. Its pretty amazing and it’s in Katherine’s personal wood collection

[@martinm3474]

@@kiblerjim Good, anything to keep it from a fire box. I thought this morning that it might be a display piece before I saw your message, still I would hang it up in your front room. I was thinking of cutting disks and casting clear resin domes over them to magnify the ripples. If ever you get some more... God bless you folks.

[@VexChoccyMilk]

I saved a curly piece of birch from the firewood pile that I planed flat and sealed the ends. When it is good and dry I will use it for a puukko-style carving knife handle since that is a semi-traditional handle material.

[@TheTir1962]

She made that practice stock pop, beautiful....shame that didn't make it into a kit!

[@P61guy61]

Thank you for posting

[@kiblerjim]

thank you for watching!

[@ctibbs53]

Just stunning wood and work❤

[@kiblerjim]

Thank you very much!

[@thetoneknob4493]

i made my stratocaster body with a nice flame-quilt maple top its about an inch thick with a mahogany back. antique wood was re used as new wood is hard to find or costs a fortune. i was thinking about doing and old timey heat activated aqua-fortis type finish. but ended up opting for an English type hand rubbed oil finish. it took almost 4 months lol sand steam shave sand steam and shave over and over.so many steps lol, and now that its aged a good 20 yrs im planning to do a thin flash coat of nitro over the oil. it will age more like a guitar and it will check over time.

[@Jonathan32177]

man i would love to replace the factory wood stock on my lever action with some of this . looks amazing

[@ellismidkiff6117]

That’s what I was thinking.

[@284Winchester]

Thanks for this explanation

[@kiblerjim]

I'm happy I could help.

[@thomasschneider8966]

People tend to forget the beauty that these gun stocks have

[@ericjohnson8571]

Thank you for this video and your legendary workmanship! If I want to order a rifle how long is the wait time. Thanks again

[@minimaxfifty]

Thanks for sharing

[@kiblerjim]

Thanks for watching!

[@jerryhuntjj2885]

Thats absolutely beautiful do yall make stocks for more modern firearms

[@deannakoa3]

Id love one

[@thekerr8728]

Have you done one of these videos about your walnut and cherry? This was insanely interesting.

[@mhughes1160]

Amazing

[@thecognitiveconservative489]

Thanks for sharing. I am curious if you ever use the amonia fuming process.

[@beebob1279]

I've got cherry drying that I milled a couple of years ago. I would love to have a stock made from it. I just don't have those skills to pick the right part of the stock nor the tools or machinery to do it. IT would be hand done. That would take a long time.

[@stevekeller8818]

I think I want the premium maple I can't wait to order one of your southern rifles

[@kiblerjim]

Thank you for your interest in our company Steve!

[@markletts8802]

Just found you..Good stuff.🇬🇧

[@kiblerjim]

Thank you!

[@mr.thickey3959]

Annnuder comment from “Ye Ol’ Mr. Thickey”, you lucky bunch of kadoodlehoppers out dere in KZbin land! “VIDEO COVER PHOTOS”, like the one shown for this wonderful video! THIS makes a GREAT GREAT impression on me as far as whether or not I’ll open up a video to actually watch it!!! The gorgeousness of that stained Curly Maple stock on your cover photo grabbed me more than a beautiful young blonde (almost!!!)! It “POPPED OFF DA PAGE” & into my little ol’ “pea pickin’ heart”, my “wood luster” almost falling to da floor!!! On a scale of 1 - 10, I’d give it a 20!!! Absolutely GORGEOUS! This one video is what convinced me to become a PROUD NEW SUBSCRIBER! Never never never underestimate the power of a great VIDEO COVER PHOTO! So many cover photos, on any subject, are so very poorly done! Some don’t even show the “content” of their cover photo IN the actual video! So, I’m so proud of whoever is responsible for your wonderful “COVER PHOTO”!!! “Gesundheit” und poleaze pass da LUTEFISK, the “other white meat”!

[@frankweges8163]

You used Tried and True Varnish oil on this stock and have used Permalyn sealer on previous stocks. Which do you prefer and is one more durable and weather resistant than the other? Thanks

[@j.e.711]

I have curly maple but not iron nitrate. Will it be possible to use ferric chloride instead?

[@Noncenx]

Curious, what would be the grade of the finished stocks you were showing, the regular, Fancy or Extra Fancy Maple? Enjoyed the video and wished you would do more like this.

[@kiblerjim]

This is actually above and beyond our top grade of maple. We got ahold of a couple very special logs and are offering these stocks to customers who already have an extra-fancy maple order coming up in the queue for an additional charge

[@johnveglio4433]

Would it hurt to leave the bark inclusions in the stock and fill it in with epoxy mixed with extra fine sanding dust ??

[@gerrycoleman7290]

I have an original Kentucky long rifle with the most beautiful tiger maple stock.

[@terryboyer7242]

Awesome

[@kiblerjim]

Thank you!

[@BugsBunny-st8lf]

Very great Video, but which scotch bride do you use? There are serveral brides made by scotch with different intensity.

[@kiblerjim]

Thanks--the maroon scotch brite works great for this

[@musketbal]

I have a P1853 Enfield that is heavily tiger stripe walnut. Do you see that type of walnut?

[@SCNative_76]

If you ever have percussion. Ill be your first customer.

[@peechford3796]

Ben wondering how to do that for years

[@ellismidkiff6117]

Woo man.

[@rooster3019]

Very nice presentation. Do run left handed stocks?

[@kiblerjim]

We don't have a left-handed model yet, but we have a new machine that will allow us to develop a left-handed kit

[@rooster3019]

@@kiblerjim I will keep that in mind if I decide to build another rifle. I am getting older, but still spry...

[@RUBIZEN]

Gunstock makers, violin makers and furniture makers...all trying to get the same wood!

[@kiblerjim]

Yep--that's why the price can go so high

[@rodsvintagesxschannel.3095]

I have a trade gun built by David Dolliver in maple. 1998. might use some of this knowledge to refinish this gun. As its " to honey " for me... Its curled maple i have. Also have a rifle comming percussion ..custom built by an unknown builder..curly maple... Thats been done with the nitrate finish... Is there a way to lighten the tone if the reddish appearance without restripping it?

[@kiblerjim]

You could use dye stain that would tone the red. Maybe something with a deep brown

[@garyhiggins4315]

It seems that you have the same sort of problem as, SEEKING for good Yew wood for longbows! This stuff is really interesting!

[@dwaynecurfman555]

Beautiful piece!!! Can we get the contact info, for the products that you used? Thank You.

[@kiblerjim]

Thank you for the compliment Dwayne! The products that we used are our own iron nitrate and also Tried and True Varnish Oil. You can order the iron nitrate off of our website at kiblerslongrifles.com and you can get the Tried and True from a woodworking store.

[@howarddeheer8295]

Kinda Looks like my stock

[@earlwheelock7844]

What is ROCK maple? ( I was raised in Vermont and went to school there in Brattleboro including wood shop in high school ) we had a lot of rock maple??

[@kiblerjim]

Rock Maple is Sugar Maple or Acer Saccharum

[@earlwheelock7844]

@@kiblerjim yea I suspected the same I was told by the teacher they were slightly different but they sure looked the same to me. I am going to order a kit tommoro as I am VERRY impressed with both the quality AND your demenore on YOU TUBE, quick question, I was watching you rifling a bbl. yesterday and just wonderd if that lathe is mounted on a wood floor or concrete?.😀😀

[@coronadrvr9863]

Is this one shown in the staining example considered extra fancy?

[@kiblerjim]

It's either extra fancy or even a little better

[@zero-ol2nt]

Could you have done tried and true Danish oil before the varnish oil?

[@kiblerjim]

Probably.

[@mojomike3913]

Can you do blanks for standard center fires?

[@kiblerjim]

no, we only work with antique styles

[@eggbert191]

Can this finishing process be done on any wood or just maple?

[@kiblerjim]

iron nitrate will turn woods with more tannins black, but it works well on ash, hickory and maple.

[@brucechambersperiodfurnitu239]

How do you keep Powder Post Beetles on of your maple ?

[@kiblerjim]

We use our wood fast enough that we usually don't have that issue.

[@rcmoot]

do you cut for lefthanders ?

[@kiblerjim]

No we don't. We hope to have something for left handers eventually but it will still be years down the road.

[@chrisvelon8343]

Was Lorie working with a hawken half stock?

[@kiblerjim]

Hey Chris, I was working with a Southern Mountain rifle stock that had been cut down due to a defect. It was heartbreaking knowing it wasn't sellable!

[@paulbriggs3072]

I submit that the number one thing that determines the curly figure in maple is......AGE! Very old maples are virtually always curly. Not to say that certain younger ones aren't but the oldest ones, especially down low where the oldest part is, are invariably curly.

[@randiegadberry5448]

Do you make left hand kits?

[@kiblerjim]

We do not make left handed rifle kits at this time. However, we hope to in the future.

[@buckconnolly1820]

What would the stock Lorie showed us how to stain grade at? Fancy or Extra Fancy?

[@kiblerjim]

It's either extra fancy or even a little better

[@DocLaw172]

But what about Moe Maple, Larry Maple or even Shemp Maple as opposed to Curly. ;-)

[@DocLaw172]

That comic relief done, I ordered plain maple and got an extremely nice looking curl from it. my Kibler Flintlock kit was definitely worth getting. Thank you, Jim and crew.

[@irishoak7269]

Ahhh what do we got here, a wise guy huh.

[@dennisbarney869]

Do you have a email you would share. I have a idea. That is some very beautiful wood.

[@frankplummer5084]

If you lightly wet the grain the viewers can see the grain much better . But I’m sure you already know that . I do it anytime I’m making a piece of furniture.

[@garyhiggins4315]

I have an idea for you, have you thought of providing the fixings to turn that brilliant strong wooden packing case into an actual Rifle case? JUST An idea? 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧