I’m experimenting with finishes for a picture frame made with soft curly maple. I’m trying to bring out the figure by applying a dye stain (General Finishes Amber Dye Stain) prior to top coating with shellac and oil/wax.

I generally like my first attempt, but am finding that the dye stain is getting in between the fibers and leaving little brown streaks. How can I control this? My process:

1. Handplane smooth
2. Apply dye stain
3. Wait a few mins, wipe off excess until dry to touch
4. Sand with 220 until back to natural-ish color (except in the curl)
5. Pad on several coats of shellac (probably a little less than a 1lb cut)
6. Rub in oil / wax (George’s Club House Wax)

I’m thinking one option is to wet the wood before applying dye (and wiping off the excess quickly). Another option I’m thinking would be to try a very light cut of shellac, sanded, prior to dyeing just to try and close off some of that those inter-fiber spaces.

Thanks for any advice anyone may have.