Wood stain and varnish

[Ross]

Ok so I recently have been trying to stain a wood stock and wood hand guards. I sanded it all down, applied american walnut stain to it, and the end result looks like shit. The wood looked like shiny plastic. All the hardware stores sold were gloss and satin finishes. So I sanded the stock and hand guard down again and now it looks grey. So I really would like some input as to what brand, colour, finish, techniques, etc other members have used to get their guns looking good. I should have just left it alone, but its too late now.

thanks.

[Slow]

This is how i do it...

- Sand
- Put a prestain coat. This makes the wood absorb the stain better
- Take a cloth or a rag and dip it in the stain and apply to wood x4 or to the colour you wish it to be. Nice thing about stain is that it looks like what you put on.

What is needed for this?
Minwax Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner
Minwax American Walnut Stain
Absorbed Rag or Cloth
Sand Paper 60w
Wood

*Forgot to say make sure to wear some laytax gloves, unless you don't care if your fingers turn brown.

[Kingsix]

sanded down the wood and many coats of Amber Shellac.