My wife recently bought an unfinished, hand-carved, mahogany door on ebay. When we received the door, it was immediately apparent that the mahogany used for the frame came from two different trees. One part is light and one part is darker red. What should I do as a foundation to balance out the colors so that when I apply the final stain, it will all look the same.
Thank You.
Replies
Sialia,
You didn't say whether this is an interior or exterior door.
The easiest way to blend the two woods prior to staining is by using a wash of water soluble dye to draw the two colors together. Prior to using a water dye, be sure and wet the wood first to raise the grain. When it dries the surface will have a rough texture that you will sand off.
The dyes are a dry powder that you mix to a proportion of one ounce to a quart of warm water. You can buy them in one ounce containers and a little goes a long way.
Determining which color you need is the question. Try looking at color charts available online. I would also get some mahogany that is about the same light color you have. This way you can experiment on something other than what your wife bought.
When you make a sample,wet the darker part of the door with some alcohol and hold the two together. You'll clearly see if you are close or not.
Once you are happy with the match let it dry thoroughly and stain as desired.The beauty of water dyes is they are compatible with all other stains and finishes. They just can't be used as a primary colorant on an exterior surface due to light fastness.
Peter Gedrys
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