What are your cocobolo grips stained with?

[cjive134]

I scratched the clear coat on my cz custom cocobolo grips and thought I would just strip off the clear coat and apply a new one. We'll, when I applied stripper to the grips there is a red stain that comes off too. The wood is still very rich when oil is applied to it but that deep red doesn't come back. Just wondered if you knew the finishing process on these grips.

Thanks

[BGlas]

I theorized that they were stained, too many sets were too consistent.
I found that a sealed set of African Coralwood almost matches exactly, but that's not what you're asking about.

http://www.minwax.com/wood-products/stains-color-guide/
I suspect that either 215-Red Oak or 222-Sedona Red will probably be pretty dang close.  Might take two coats to get dark as you want, then I would finish it off with several thin coats of polyurethane (I use an old t-shirt to apply).

I hadn't found anyone that knows the process yet, but Angus might.

Thanks,
Brian

[cjive134]

Thanks, I'll check out the minwax colors at the local hardware store and maybe do a little experimenting this weekend.

[larryflew]

When I did my own I used a cherry and they look like the red that Marshalgrips uses.

[cjive134]

I've experimented and I have come close but no cigar. I have read that iodine can make a pretty brilliant red stain. Anyone with experience using iodine as a red wood stain?