Replies

1. 
   joinerswork | Apr 04, 2005 10:36pm | #1

   Larry,

   Does mahogany age in color as cherry does? 

   To some degree, but not to the extent that cherry will, in my experience.

   If so, how long for the change to be noticeable?

   Some darkening takes place when the finish is applied, after that, so slowly you won't really notice it happening.  After a couple years, you may recalllit being lighter, once upon a time.

   What is the recommended way to darken the legs to match the aprons?

   I like water based aniline dye, followed up with a pigmented wiping stain. On everything.

   What finishes should be avoided with mahogany?

   Never had a bad experience.

   Are there clearly preferable finishes for mahogany?

   Depends on the effect you want to achieve.  Oil finish for open grained, low luster, or gloss lacquer for more formal appearance.

   Do I need to paste fill the open pores or can I proceed without sealing the wood?

   Use paste filler if you want a glass smooth surface. I prefer to skip the filler when possible as I have had issues with finish clarity in the past, using filler.  A couple add'l coats of a surface film, like lacquer or varnish, or shellac will go a long way towards filling the pores, after rubbing out.  I don't mind seeing the pores telegraphing thru the finish, some folks can't abide it.

   The bulk of the mahogany available as brazilian, or peruvian mahogany today would have been called baywood by period makers, I've read. It is much lighter in color and weight than the old time cuban or santo domingo mahogany, found in many antiques, and needs stain and/or dye to resemble the old stuff.

   Regards,

   Ray

2. 
   ChipTam | Apr 04, 2005 10:37pm | #2

   Larry,

   Mahogany will darken quite quickly (in my experience, much more quickly than cherry).  For example, you should notice a difference in color tone between the interior and exterior of a cabinet in only about six months.  That said, you'll find significant differences in color tone with mahogany from board to board.  So, you may not be able to match the color of one piece in a given project to another piece.  About 10 years ago, I did my kitchen in mahogany.  There were a great many color tones in the various boards which I used but, perhaps because there is so much mahogany in the kitchen, the various tones tended to blend together into a unified whole.  That may not be the case on a smaller project.

   I believe that potasium dichromate is the chemical which will darken the color of mahogany but you better confirm that through other replies to your question.  I don't really like using potasium dichromate since I think that it gives the wood a lifeless quality.

   Personally, I like an oil varnish on mahogany but, I'm sure other finishes could also work.  You can choose to fill the pores with a paste filler but I don't do so.  I find that multiple coats of varnish will do a pretty good job of filling the pores without a paste filler.

   Chip

3. 
   Ardito | Apr 04, 2005 10:37pm | #3

   Larry,

   Mahogany will darken over time just like Cherry.  If you try and darken it now, it will be WAY too dark later on.  It doesn't take very long to darken...I have a piece that is 2 years old and already darker.

   I would not fill the wood.  I love the way an oil finish looks on Mahogany...just beautiful.

   Cheers!
   Dark

    

4. 
   GHR | Apr 05, 2005 02:41am | #4

   You should have bought a single board for the skirts and legs. And a single board for the top.

   I don't mind a color difference between various pieces as long as all the legs are the same color and all the skirts are the same color and the top is one color.

   Most of my pieces change color within months if not weeks.