UV protection on stock question

I made a stock and fore end from Osage Orange or Hedge as it's often called. I'd like to maintain the bright yellow/orange color and over time this wood tends to darken quite a bit. It's been suggested that exposure to light is the cause of this, so I was thinking about trying to use a clear urethane of some sort as a sealer and preferably an aerosol.

I've done a bit of searching and can only find one UV protectant aerosol and it seems it dries leaving a rather chalky, somewhat opaque finish which is not what I want. So I thought I'd ask to see if anyone here has tried something like this and what the results were? Tried to upload a couple of photos but files are too big apparently.

Thanks for looking.

I have purchased a UV protector that is made to be added to product, paint or poly specifically. I don't know but assume you can add it to an oil finish as well. I think I got it at Lowes, but I'm not sure.

Regardless of protection you will eventually get leakage and darkening if it is exposed to UV light.

I’d love to see pics of the Horseapple stock.
Very tough wood, was used for fence posts and even house foundation piers long ago down here.


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You won't be able to stop the change in color. All you can do is slow it down. It is a product of oxidation, and regardless of the finish used, it still breathes.
What caliber did you make the stock for? Although it has a great flexibility longitudinally, it has weak compressive resistance.

Minwax Helmsman indoor/outdoor spar urethane is a UV resistant finish that is commonly used and available just about everywhere. I've used it to great results on wooden front doors that take a lot of sunshine. Much more UV than your stock will receive indoors or during the occasional outdoor use.

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Originally Posted by waksupi

You won't be able to stop the change in color. All you can do is slow it down. It is a product of oxidation, and regardless of the finish used, it still breathes.
What caliber did you make the stock for? Although it has a great flexibility longitudinally, it has weak compressive resistance.

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It's a modified version of a Remington #6 in .22LR. Single shot design from the early 1900s.
Made it in my home shop. If I can figure out how to post pictures I'll put some up.
I've had the wood drying for about a decade. I know it's an unconventional choice but I prefer unusual things. I've been looking forward to making a stock from it for a long time and finally got around to it.

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Originally Posted by Bruntson

Minwax Helmsman indoor/outdoor spar urethane is a UV resistant finish that is commonly used and available just about everywhere. I've used it to great results on wooden front doors that take a lot of sunshine. Much more UV than your stock will receive indoors or during the occasional outdoor use.

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Does it self-level and dry clear? I presume it's applied with a brush?

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Originally Posted by Hannibal

Does it self-level and dry clear? I presume it's applied with a brush?

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Yes, yes, and yes.

Or you can also spray it.
It's marketed for varnishing the wood on boats.

I've never had any issues with anything under the min-wax label.

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Originally Posted by Winger Ed.

Yes, yes, and yes.

Or you can also spray it.
It's marketed for varnishing the wood on boats.

I've never had any issues with anything under the min-wax label.

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Sounds like what I'm looking for. I'll seal a test piece and evaluate it before doing the stock.

Thanks for the suggestions and info!

I'm also a fan of Minwax Spar Urethane. By all means use the Gloss, not semi-gloss. The semi-gloss has silica added to give it that matte finish and it isn't as UV resistant as the gloss. (You can always rub out the final coat to a softer luster if that's the look you're going for.)

An even better varnish in that regard is Epifanes, but at more cost. Having spent half a lifetime in the marine industry here in Annapolis I can attest to its suitability for UV protection. It's the varnish of choice for salt air/water protection in the glaring sunlight.

But like Waksupi said there's no 100% forever and ever panacea for maintaining the color of Osage Orange. There's a lot of it growing on Maryland's Eastern Shore, and a buddy made a Model 12 shotgun stock out of a chunk of a tree he cut down in a hedgerow. It has held up well to use in goose blinds for about 12 years now, and the color has shifted from a bright yellow/orange to more of a honey/orange/brown hue that to me is quite pleasing to behold. The only thing I've used it for is knife scales where it polishes nicely and takes an oil finish beautifully, with the same color shift. Don't discount that color shift out of hand until you've seen it!

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Originally Posted by waksupi

You won't be able to stop the change in color. All you can do is slow it down. It is a product of oxidation, and regardless of the finish used, it still breathes.
What caliber did you make the stock for? Although it has a great flexibility longitudinally, it has weak compressive resistance.

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I've made a few bows with this and no matter what finish I've put on it, they always get darker. The first one I made over 40 years ago is a deep Walnut color.

UV resistant polyurethane such as sold in headlight restoration kits both blocks UV and seals the wood from oxidation. This is the best solution out there. Will it still darken? It probably will.