Replies

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Mar 16, 2009 08:09pm | #1

   Dye, on bare wood, is the way to darken mahogany.  Mahogany takes dye quite well.  Don't go just by the color name when choosing the color. 

   But mahogany takes pigmented stains well too, without "blotching", again on bare wood.  Pore filler contains binders that seal the wood sufficiently that stain won't take over the pore filler.  By the way, I assume the mahogany we are talking about is Honduran or South American mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla.)

   If you are interested, there are some finishing schedules that can unleash the beauty of mahogany, that can give an often very plain wood, a little more life and inner shine, that looks more like fine antiques.  It would help if you could describe your project more specifically.

   Now my experience with mahogany furniture says that far from all of the older furniture is really dark.  Your profile doesn't say where you live, but a visit to a museum with 18th and early 19th century antiques would give a good guide, if that's not feasible, go to your library and check out something like Albert Sack, The New Fine Points of Furniture Early American.  This just gives a different perspective that contrasts with the concept of the furniture manufacturers in the nineteen twenty and thirties.  But that's all just a matter of personal preferences. 

    

    

   
   

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   Edited 3/16/2009 2:12 pm ET by SteveSchoene

1. 
   v1kk1 | Mar 17, 2009 01:55am | #2

   Steve, Thanks so much. I  just  bought  some TransTine  brown mahogany dye. I will try that. Most of the time I am  making parts for old furniture & trying to match colors.  Thanks again.