What is grain raising and why is it important when finishing a stock?
Grain raising means wetting the stock down with water, which expands wood fibers that were compressed during shaping back to their unstressed state. If you skip this step, those fibers will slowly return to their natural state as the gun ages, resulting in a rough stock later on. It's best to raise the grain at least two or three times, sanding lightly with fresh, sharp sandpaper after each raising.