Staining though tenons and dovetail pins to contrast to mating surface.
I am searching for the technique or process for staining dovetails pins and through tenons with a different color than the tails or mortised piece.
I am building a table much like an architects drafting table with a lifting lid. The sides will be hard maple and front and rear of cherry. The maple will remain natural, the cherry stained that deep red. In addition, I have some internal panels of cherry and I thought it might look great if they were attached by tenons though the maple. And, I want those tenons to be contrasting as well.
What steps do take to get and keep the deep contrast that shows off the dovetails? Do I cut the dovetails and tenons “proud” and shave them off? This must start with the cutting and assembling prior to staining. Do I need to dry assemble to fit, then stain, then final glue up and then final finishes?
Replies
dry fit
The dovetails are not a big issue since they are very strong without much glue (if fit properly). So I woulld dry assemble, trin the dovetails then disassemble, tape the glue surfaces and dye the piece.
Do the same with the tenons but be extra careful taping since they need all glue surface they can get. To alleviate that issue you might consider wedged tenons.
Trying to dye or stain after assembly would be difficult to do without getting on the maple since no matter how tight the fit there will always be a line between the woods that would suck up dye onto the maple.
Forrest
You may find that your problem will solve it self naturally. The end grain of either wood will be considerably darker with any oil based finish than the flat grain of surrounding wood. First thing I would do is dampen the woods with some mineral spirits to see what impact that natural effect will have. Also remember in a year the cherry will be considerably darker than it is now while the maple will darken only a very small amount. Also pigmented stains have a greater impact on end grain than on flat grain. Dye on the other hand tends to even out the differences between end and flat grain.
I have a lot to learn!
Thank you all for sharing your experience and wisdom.
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