Replies

1. 
   Kevin | Sep 02, 2005 08:55pm | #1

   I'm not sure exactly what you mean by getting what you paid for. If you mean that you want to highlight the curly figure to it's maximum effect then I would suggest using a dilute dye stain. Not much color is required at all.

   I made something a while back out of very marginal curly/ropey Western Maple. It was consistently figured. But, the figure was marginal (ie: lightly figured). I applied a very, very light amber dye stain and I gotta say that I was overwhelmed by how much it highlighted the figure. I'd read about using dye to pop figure on Maple. But, this had been my first time trying it. The effect produced frankly exceeded my expectations by a wide margin.

   Heavy dye can be and is used to achieve a particular look with figured Maple. But, with my piece I just wanted to highlight the figure and so went with a super weak dye. I sprayed mine and doubt that the same effect could be achieved nearly as easily (if at all) by wiping dye on. Although, I suppose that an even weaker dye than what I used could be made to work. But, in any case... the piece that I did really didn't look like it had been stained. It wasn't a crisp white like you see with the Eastern Maples. But, that wasn't a problem. The Western Maple I used is sometimes called Brown Maple because it's not as white as the other. So, the really weak Amber-colored dye formula that I used was very complimentary and kept the piece looking pretty natural.

   As an aside... I've seen Quilted Maple dyed with a really strong, dark color on an electric guitar and it looked simply stunning. It looked the the wood was boiling under the surface. Pretty spectacular, IMHO.

   Pigmented stain simply won't create the same results. The only way to do it is with dye.

   As always, test copiously with scrap to determine what it is that you are going to do to the actual piece. The more dye color that's added, the more it'll pop the figure... to a point. So, if you're wanting a natural look just keep in mind that there's a compromise required. Testing on scrap will help you decide how much dye to apply before the color gets to be too much for your tastes.

   Edit: Use a full gloss clear. If you want a lower sheen then rub it down to a lower sheen. The lower sheen canned finishes have a flatting agent added which will partially obscure the figure.

   
   

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   Edited 9/2/2005 2:28 pm ET by Kevin

1. 
   charlesc | Sep 03, 2005 12:24am | #2

   Thanks for all all the info Kevin and thanks for answering even though I posted in the wrong section.

1. 
   Kevin | Sep 03, 2005 01:03am | #3

   Not a problem, Charles. Curly Maple is one of my most favorite woods. So, your post title grabbed my attention pretty easily.

   :::grin:::

2. 
   frenchy | Sep 03, 2005 01:17am | #4

   charlesc

     My curley maple (I call it fiddleback maple)  really blosomed when I gave it a simple coat of shellac.. there is enough "color'  in shellac to make the differance really pop.  I posted some picures a while ago of it but I have no idea of how long ago..