I am making a mahogany Jewelry box. The top has 1/8th inch maple inlay banding. I want to stain the mahogany without staining the banding. I’ve masked off the banding and sprayed it with water based lacquer. Two coats. I then removed the masking tape and sprayed a waterbased stain on the entire top. Not good! Somehow the stain bleeds somewhat into the maple and the result looks awful.
I’m not set up to spray shellac although I could try masking off again and applying shellac by brush, but I’m afraid the shellac will seep in under the tape and prevent the stain from taking when I get to the stain step again. Furniture makers must have this problem especially with federal style furniture with string inlay.
I need help.
Bob Kingsley
Replies
This is the situation where a chemical dye--such as potassium dichromate--has a role. Despite the special care needed because of the poisonous nature of the material, it will color the mahogany, but have only minimal impact on the maple.
Bob,
There is a short piece on coloring inlaid pieces, at the following link.
http://americanfederalperiod.com/Tea%203.html
Rob Millard
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