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I want to make the bird’s eyes really pop out on this 4’x5’x4″ map frame. The local woodworking store talked me into buying Behlen Master Solar-Lux Yellow Maple, a non grain-raising dye-based stain. I’ve tried the Yellow Maple on a piece of cutoff, with startling results – it turns yellow-orange, a color I’ve never seen on a piece of furniture before. I’ve tried diluting it down to a 30% dye/70% solvent mixture, with no real change in the result. I’ve tried scraping off most of the dye, having been told that the dye would tend to stay in the bird’s eyes, but this didn’t happen.
I’m aiming for an antique maple color, with a very slight reddish/brown tint.
Has anyone advice on finishing birdeye, either with this product, or another?
Thanks in advance for any help.
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Garnet lac or button lac shellac might give it a nice look and color, I think Behlen has both.
*Jim, I'm a custom stair builder and we do alot of treads in birdseye and curly yellow birch. We have been useing the following method for the better part of 20 years with fantastic results. First sand to 180 grit or better. Then coat the surface with Watco Danish oil (natural or tinted). Flood the surface and let soak in, recoat in several hours, wipe dry. Let finish cure a MINIMUM of 3 days,in humid weather 5 days is better. Wipe down with lacquer thinner to remove any traces of oil on the surface. Top coat with lacquer, conversion varnish or Matrix NGR waterbase finish.
*First a small point. You can't really tell what the color will be on a dye stain until it has the top coat on it. This can be approximated by wiping some naptha or mineral spirits on the dyed wood, but if you plan on using something like garnet shellac you would want to use the actual material for your test of the final color. Dye stains can be mixed either before applying or in multiple coats. Its often best to start very dilute and build slowly to the desired darkness.My formula for birdseye is to start with a dark brown dye stain mixed very dilutely (about 1/10th) of the usual strength. This helps pop the figure. Then after sanding lightly with 320 grit, apply either a oil/varnish like Watco, or BOILED linseed oil, before applying orange or garnet shellac. Shellac should be plenty tough for this application which won't have anyone setting a hot coffee cup on it. Its also easy to fix if there is damage.
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