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Dark walnut finish

JollyRoger808's picture

Dark walnut finish (post #169654)

JollyRoger808 on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 14:25
in

Hi All,


I'm getting ready to build a built-in for a closet.  I will use plywood for box construction, and solid wood for face.  I have a choice between mahogany, birch and red oak for building material.  I want to stain the wood a dark walnut.  Which of these would give the best stain and finish?  I'm guessing mahogany, since it has the finest grain maybe?

-A +A
SteveSchoene's picture

Mahogany will take dye and (post #169654, reply #1 of 2)

by SteveSchoene in reply to JollyRoger808 [original] on Fri, 01/27/2012 - 09:25

Mahogany will take dye and stain quite well, making it relatively easy to achieve a dark color and to mimick walnut.  Oak will also take dye and stain reasonably well and can be made dark, with the best plan to begin with a powdered water soluble dye to achieve the dark overall coloration, and then follow with a similarly colored pigmented stain to be sure to color inside the pores.  The pores are coarse and will never look like walnut, even if the color matches.  Finally, birch would be the most challenging to achieve an even dark stain.  Beginning with dye would be absolutely necessary, following with a gell stain, unless you have spray capabilities, in which you could build up the darkness with multiple coats of a toned lacquer.  Not much grain to obscure with the birch, and looking like walnut wouln't be an option either. 

Test your finish on scrap, FIRST, or risk having to scrap your finish.

SteveSchoene's picture

Mahogany will take dye and (post #169654, reply #2 of 2)

by SteveSchoene in reply to JollyRoger808 [original] on Fri, 01/27/2012 - 09:25

Mahogany will take dye and stain quite well, making it relatively easy to achieve a dark color and to mimick walnut.  Oak will also take dye and stain reasonably well and can be made dark, with the best plan to begin with a powdered water soluble dye to achieve the dark overall coloration, and then follow with a similarly colored pigmented stain to be sure to color inside the pores.  The pores are coarse and will never look like walnut, even if the color matches.  Finally, birch would be the most challenging to achieve an even dark stain.  Beginning with dye would be absolutely necessary, following with a gell stain, unless you have spray capabilities, in which you could build up the darkness with multiple coats of a toned lacquer.  Not much grain to obscure with the birch, and looking like walnut wouln't be an option either. 

Test your finish on scrap, FIRST, or risk having to scrap your finish.