[SandWMan]

Hey, don’t I know you? The Nitric acid/iron stain has to be heated to turn color. As far as I know, violins were not treated this way. Generally, color comes from colored varnish. The wood would be treated with any number of different substances to seal it. One of which is “water glass”. There were other things used as well, often in several layers. Once the grain was filled and the surface smooth, a colored varnish would be applied to the surface. To the best I have been able to ascertain, this was the general method used...I can easily be wrong.

Stophel

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[SWAMPSNIPER]

You add iron filings to nitric acid until no more will dissolve, then brush it on the maple. I just passed the stock back and forth over an electric hot plate. Some wood was finished with what they called "French polish", a mixture of white shellac and linseed oil. Beeswax also makes a fairly durable finish.

You may know me if you're in Florida and shot in NMLRA events back in the 70s. I was the guy who always shot a flintlock in the line of caplock shooters, it drove them crazy! I usually had an empty lane to my right!