I am new to woodworking, and read a lot of woodworking magazines and online publications. One thing continues to puzzle me – why do people make something out of oak and then stain it to look like walnut or mahogany? If you want a dark object, why not use dark wood? I LIKE the look of light wood, just as I like the look of dark wood. What is the point of trying to make one look like the other?
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There are many reasons wood is stained; to have it fit into a particular design, to give the wood an aged appearance, to satisfy our own tastes etc.
Some feel wood should NEVER be stained for any reason. There is nothing wrong with that in any way. It's just personal taste.
I live in an older home. There are lovely poplar doors with a panel in a panel and old shellac finishes that have aged to a nice golden brown. One door was painted white and it was adjacent to new cherry cabinets in our kitchen.
I stripped the door and with dyes imitated the color of the cherry and then finished it. I've asked many experts what type of wood it is when they see it for the first time and the first thing that comes out of their mouth " is this cherry?"
There are many reasons we do or don't color wood. Whatever pleases your eye the most is what's right for you.
Peter
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