Finishing advise for Mahogany

When I’ve used timbermate on mahogany, I use the plain stuff and use the dye stain to tint it. Since you’re already using dye stain, that can work pretty easily.

You probably already know this, but I’d take a scrap piece and make squares or strips with tape and make a sample board following each step of finishing short of french polish to make sure you get exactly what you want.

-- "Man is the only animal which devours his own, for I can apply no milder term to the general prey of the rich on the poor." ~Thomas Jefferson

here’s a shot of the top to show the wood color.

am I nuts to die this a more reddish color?

-- Matt -- I yam what I yam and that's all what I yam

Its hard to beat the natural color of mahogany, but sample boards will give you a better picture of what to expect.

-- Willie, Washington "If You Choose Not To Decide, You Still Have Made a Choice" - Rush

I recently used a mixture of early American maple and brown transfast dye on a small mahogany box I refinished. I used probably 70% early American maple (which is really a red color) and 30% brown. One coat brushed on with a sponge brush, then I let it dry, sanded it back with some 180 then brushed 2 coats of shellac over the top. Sanded that back with some 320 then did a quasi French polish over the top. Finished with a coat of conservators wax. Its came out buttery smooth.

I think timbermate would be a solid choice to fill the pores.

-- Its not a crack, its a casting imperfection.

I am getting ready to finish two shaker tables I made from mahogany. I would drop the sand paper and get a card scraper. MUCH smoother. I did this on the tables and what I tried to do with hours of sanding I knocked out in an hour with a card scraper and it is nice.

-- Don't blame me, I voted for no one.

Everybody has their favorite finishes. I like Mahogany with an initial coat of natural Danish Oil, then one coat of red mahogany Danish Oil—adjusting how much of each to get the color you want. I think it is spectacular, but it doesn’t get that really bold red some folks like. I think it is a pretty “natural” looking mahogany color. Then can topcoat as you wish (with oil based topcoat).

-- "Man is the only animal which devours his own, for I can apply no milder term to the general prey of the rich on the poor." ~Thomas Jefferson

Found an article with good illustrations on Woodworkers source.

Orange, brown or red….

I prefer the red myself. The orange looks too much like African Sapele. Brown is nice too though. These did not have the grain filled with anything else but wiping varnish applied cross grain. I’ll have to see which one my daughter likes.

-- Matt -- I yam what I yam and that's all what I yam

The brown is nice.

-- Willie, Washington "If You Choose Not To Decide, You Still Have Made a Choice" - Rush

Dyes and stains…. makes me hair stand up. But, when done right, they are awesome. I am no expert, actually I don’t know a darn thing bout stains n dyes… lol. Wish you luck. I’m sure whatever you come up with, will look grrr8.

-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Keep your dust collector fed. [email protected]

Matt, I’m a big fan of Timbermate as it is so easy to apply and sands easily. You need to add water and mix to the consistency of very thick latex paint. I use a credit card and apply across the grain (put more on than you would think). It will stain the wood somewhat depending on which color you use. It is cheap enough to buy 2-3 different colors and try on some scrap. Rubbed on shellac (ala Black Cherry’s blog) is my favorite finish. It is a lot more durable than people think.

Edit: That little jar of Timbermate will go a LONG ways.

-- " I'll try to be nicer, if you'll try to be smarter" gfadvm

+1 for Timbermate & dye before final stain coat and then either a wiping varnish ala Wood Whisperer, or even Arm r seal from GF which is near the same right out of the can.

-- I've decided 1 mistake is really 2 opportunities to learn.. learn how to fix it... and learn how to not repeat it

GF?

-- Matt -- I yam what I yam and that's all what I yam

General Finishes

https://generalfinishes.com/retail-products/oil-base-top-coats/arm-r-seal-urethane-topcoat

I’m a great fan of Tung oil and pretty much use it on everything.

-- I meant to do that!