I am building a desk, the top of which will be made of a cherry frame with three mahogany panels (veneer on plywood). I want to stain both the cherry and the mahogany. What is the best way to do this without applying the mahogany stain to the cherry and vice versa? I am thinking my only choice is to pre-assemble and sand the parts (to ensure a perfect fit) then disassemble, stain and reassemble. But then I have to deal with possible glue out. Suggestions?
Ben
Replies
First, mask to make sure that you don't stain the areas to be glued. Then glue neatly to avoid as much squeeze out as possible. You don't need lots of glue, just to be sure you get good coverage.
I would use hide glue for the glue up, either liquid or hot. This has several advantages. It can be removed from surfaces with water--warm helps--even after it dries. It also would be less visible under finish should you miss a spot and would take stain if a tough up is needed.
Staining is the biggest revealer of glue squeeze, and since you have already stained you will have missed that problem. And, the binder in an oil-based stain will have already "wet" out the wood, so finished applied, even over a glue smear, won't look much if any different than applied just over the stain.
You can mask the wood just next to the glue joints, so squeeze out would be on the masking paper though I don't trust it much. Remove it fast enough to be able to wipe off glue if the masking tape has allowed some bleeding underneath.
Therefore, if you are able to pre-fit and have the wood go back into the correct orientation you sould be just fine.
Thanks, Steve. Appreciate the info.
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