Replies

1. 
   Paul_Snyder | Jan 06, 2005 02:40am | #1

   The chemical dye is a good choice. It will give you the color you want and retain some natural color variations that are in the wood. Dye is another option. It does a nice job of popping the figure in the wood. The color will be more uniform which may or may not be to your liking. Then again, you may not want to stain the wood at all. Take a scrap of the wood and cover a portion of it and then place it near a window for a week and see what it will look like after a little aging. The UV from the sun speeds up the aging process.

   Here's a little mahogany sample I "suntanned." I covered the left side before I put it near the window.

   View Image

   Paul S
   Website

2. 
   3fingers | Jan 06, 2005 07:11am | #2

   I have used PD on many commissions and I have to say the color is great.  But the down side is if there is any sapwood or worm holes you will find that it does react differently. It does not seem to except the color. 

   You can get the same color effects with "Reddish Brown Trans Fast"  and wont have to worry about getting the chemical on yourself.  Potassium Dichromate can be very dangerous.  I got a tiny little drop on my lip once and I had the runs for a week and a half.  Almost went to the hospital.  Just from a little splash.

    

   
   

   ---

   Edited 1/5/2005 11:13 pm ET by 3fingers

3. 
   301 | Jan 06, 2005 07:53am | #3

   I have been working on a huge African Mahagany project for several months now and I strongly advise you to look at dyes rather then stains.  No need for other chemicals in this process. 

   I use a water based dye from Woodworker's Supply (woodworker.com) in a spray bottle, mist it on wipe off the excess.  Follow with a tung oil based stain/sealer (General Finishes) then apply your protective coat.  Looks so good that people will think you know what you are doing.

4. 
   RMillard | Jan 07, 2005 04:32am | #4

   I finish mahogany with a combination of chemicals and dyes. As Paul noted above, mahogany will change color rather quickly when placed in the sun. If you dye mahogany dark, it will continue to darken overtime, and can become too dark. I've found that chemicals halt or at least severely curtail this natural darkening. The down side is they can be difficult or dangerous to work with and the color is not predictable, although the intensity can be changed. I have used lye, and lime. I once ordered some PD, but chickened out due to its near plutonium toxicity. By far, lime is the best way to go, but experimentation is key, as the ratio of lime to water will result in everything from almost no change to nearly black. By using lime and dye, you can get the best of both worlds, a stable color that can, within limits match your desired color. For example you want a dark brown, so I would use the lime and tweak the color either by applying a green dye, or putting on some Trans Tint Dyes ( Brown Mahogany?) in oil. The finish you get from this method is outstanding, with its depth and clarity.
   Rob Millard

5. 
   dstevick | Jan 16, 2005 05:31pm | #5

   Valuman,

   I’m just an amateur, however I just completed the second phase of a kitchen table/chairs project that I made from “African” mahogany. The table was the first phase and is now over two years old. I did not stain, dye, or treat with any chemicals – only a polyurethane finish. The table has darkened considerably from the time it was first built and is now a very nice dark brown. I would not want it any darker than it already is. As a matter of fact some of the scrap pieces left over from the table project are very dark.

   The second phase was the chairs, which started life much lighter than the table, however they have darkened considerably in just a few months. The chairs were finished with a Sam Maloof finish.

   I noticed a couple of things about “African” mahogany. There is a lot of variation in what is labeled African mahogany. Some of it is hard and looks similar to Honduras mahogany and some is light, soft, and fuzzy. From the picture in one of the posts I am guessing that it is one of the lighter (in both color and more significantly weight). I was concerned on my chair project that the contrast between the two types (both were used in the chairs) would be distracting. After the finish was applied the lighter pieces seemed to darken more significantly than the already dark ones. In the finished chairs the two types are very hard to tell apart.

   My vote it to keep it natural and let nature take is course.

   Good luck

   Dean