Charlie,
Believe it or not, the proper way to do checkering is at the very end of the refinishing process, after the new finish has been applied.
I like to make a pan lid out of aluminum foil and pinch it down tightly around the edges to keep solvent evaporation to a minimum. You will likely need a second batch of solvent, for after the first one turns tea colored with dissolved oil. I also use Easy Off foaming oven cleaner on the inlet areas of the stock to take off the biggest part of the goo and grime that embeds in the rough wood grain. Coax it out gently with a tooth brush or other soft plastic brush, rinse with water, and repeat the process a couple times. You will be amazed how much oily goop and accumulated debris will come out of the inletted rough areas. I once cleaned a coastal G grade stock that way and recovered enough beach sand, along with other crud, to cover the palm of my hand.
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