Replies

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Dec 15, 2006 07:15am | #1

   This will more or less work, but I would consider bringing out any hints of figure in the mahogany by giving a light wash coat of shellac over the dye, before adding the brown pigmented stain.  I would use 1 lb. cut.  The shellac will almost seal the harder parts of the mahogany, but where the grain reverses or rises to the surface it will not seal very well.  Thus, when you apply the stain, (and if I were mixing the stain, I'd probably add a dollop of varnish to the oil so it cures a bit harder and faster)  it will leave golden highlights with darker, browner background.  You should experiment with the cut of the wash coat and how you apply it to get the look you want. 

   For a Federal piece, you probably would want a fully filled finish with no pores showing.  Originally, with dark dense mahogany, this would be the result of french polishing with pumice grinding itself and wood dust into the pores.  Since you have to color the wood, you should consider substituting pore fillers such as Behlen Pore O Pac for the stain.  You can tint "natural" filler with burnt ochre (the dark brown) and burnt sienna (the red brown) japan colors or oil paints.   

2. 
   Troy | Dec 15, 2006 09:40am | #2

   You might also try some of the darker shellacs like the garnet shellac flakes from Belen I Have used these on mahogany and have been pleased with the color.

   Troy

3. 
   RMillard | Dec 15, 2006 03:58pm | #3

   I used to finish inlaid pieces this way, and the results were excellent. The only thing I did different than Jeff is I dyed the piece yellow before applying the dyed oil.

   I now use a lime and water mixture to color mahogany. This is not as easy as the dyed oil, but the results are outstanding.

   I don't know how to link to another thread, but if you look in the gallery section for the thread about the Seymour Tambour Desk, there is a posting about the lime treatment.

   Rob Millard

1. 
   alan23 | Dec 22, 2006 04:54am | #4

   I went with the oil and dye mixture but first sprayed the piece with transtint amber then went with brown mahogany and redish brown mixed with boiled linseed oil and the color was very nice.

2. 
   JayS | Dec 22, 2006 10:21pm | #5

   Can you elaborate on your lime technique?  Are you talking about the garden variety lime that is used to neutalize soil for planting?  Does this differentially stain the mahogany and not other inlays such as satinwood or holly?  Thanks.

   Jay

1. 
   RMillard | Dec 23, 2006 04:59am | #6

   Jay,

   I think the link below will take you to a description of the process; if not look in the thread in the gallery section titled Reproduction Seymour Tambour Desk.

   33037.11

   Rob Millard