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 | | From: | Lars Stole | | Subject: | Color variation with Honduran Mahogany | | Date: | Sun, 23 Jan 2005 08:35:51 -0600 |
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 | I purchased some Honduran Mahogany about 6 months ago and constructed the legs and rails for a coffee table. Recetnly I purchased some more H. Mahogany to complete the table top. Unfortunately, the colors of the two wood are distinctly different - the first batch is significantly darker (and richer looking) than the second. When you apply tung oil, it is even more dramatic.
So, is this difference in color because ... (1) I've been ripped off and sold a lesser species like African "Mahogany" in the second batch, (2) the first batch oxidized and darkened like Cherry, so I should just be patient, or (3) there is much color variation even within H. Mahogany so I should learn my lesson and buy all of the wood for a project at the same time from the same source?
Lars
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 | | From: | Dr. Deb | | Subject: | Re: Color variation with Honduran Mahogany | | Date: | Sun, 23 Jan 2005 09:00:10 -0600 |
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 | Lars Stole wrote:
> I purchased some Honduran Mahogany about 6 months ago and constructed > the legs and rails for a coffee table. Recetnly I purchased some more > H. Mahogany to complete the table top. Unfortunately, the colors of > the two wood are distinctly different - the first batch is > significantly darker (and richer looking) than the second. When you > apply tung oil, it is even more dramatic. > > So, is this difference in color because ... > (1) I've been ripped off and sold a lesser species like African > "Mahogany" in the second batch, > (2) the first batch oxidized and darkened like Cherry, so I should just > be patient, or > (3) there is much color variation even within H. Mahogany so I should > learn my lesson and buy all of the wood for a project at the same time > from the same source? > > Lars
Lars, unfortunately, the answer is #3. Not only does the color vary but the density can vary also. I have picked up two pieces from the same bundle and had one be almost as light weight as bass wood. On these light weight pieces, which I think are sapwood, the grain is very hard to sand smooth and they are good only for interior bracing.
Deb
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 | | From: | Lars Stole | | Subject: | Re: Color variation with Honduran Mahogany | | Date: | Sun, 23 Jan 2005 10:22:49 -0600 |
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 | Thanks for the feedback.
Judging from the long off cuts, the lighter colored wood also seems to be less stable -- noticeable, slight warping only a week after cutting. This is unfortunately consistent with your theory about it being sapwood. Very depressing given the cost of the stuff.
Lesson learned.
On 2005-01-23 09:00:10 -0600, "Dr. Deb" said:
> Lars Stole wrote: > >> I purchased some Honduran Mahogany about 6 months ago and constructed >> the legs and rails for a coffee table. Recetnly I purchased some more >> H. Mahogany to complete the table top. Unfortunately, the colors of >> the two wood are distinctly different - the first batch is >> significantly darker (and richer looking) than the second. When you >> apply tung oil, it is even more dramatic. >> >> So, is this difference in color because ... >> (1) I've been ripped off and sold a lesser species like African >> "Mahogany" in the second batch, >> (2) the first batch oxidized and darkened like Cherry, so I should just >> be patient, or >> (3) there is much color variation even within H. Mahogany so I should >> learn my lesson and buy all of the wood for a project at the same time >> from the same source? >> >> Lars > > Lars, unfortunately, the answer is #3. Not only does the color vary but the > density can vary also. I have picked up two pieces from the same bundle > and had one be almost as light weight as bass wood. On these light weight > pieces, which I think are sapwood, the grain is very hard to sand smooth > and they are good only for interior bracing. > Deb
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 | | From: | Andy Dingley | | Subject: | Re: Color variation with Honduran Mahogany | | Date: | Sun, 23 Jan 2005 15:18:33 +0000 |
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 | On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 08:35:51 -0600, Lars Stole wrote:
3, quite possibly 1.
This applies to pretty much all timber. It's always good to have an adequate supply for a project, ideally from the same flitch. -- Smert' spamionam
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 | | From: | Patriarch | | Subject: | Re: Color variation with Honduran Mahogany | | Date: | Sun, 23 Jan 2005 17:59:12 -0600 |
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 | Andy Dingley wrote in news:g0g7v0ldatq6smsp4s27cmjrfaj3oov6a5@4ax.com:
> On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 08:35:51 -0600, Lars Stole > wrote: > > 3, quite possibly 1. > > This applies to pretty much all timber. It's always good to have an > adequate supply for a project, ideally from the same flitch.
I often buy a couple of extra pieces, when I visit the hardwood dealer. This reasoning leads to a full lumber rack, with a little bit of many types of wood. The good news is that I seem to be screwing up less dramatically than in times past. The bad news is that I may need to have a 'clear out the racks' Saturday sometime this spring.
Patriarch
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 | | From: | rcook5 at TAKEOUTmindspring.com | | Subject: | Re: Color variation with Honduran Mahogany | | Date: | Sun, 23 Jan 2005 22:57:11 GMT |
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 | On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 08:35:51 -0600, Lars Stole wrote:
>I purchased some Honduran Mahogany about 6 months ago and constructed >the legs and rails for a coffee table. Recetnly I purchased some more >H. Mahogany to complete the table top. Unfortunately, the colors of >the two wood are distinctly different - the first batch is >significantly darker (and richer looking) than the second. When you >apply tung oil, it is even more dramatic. > >So, is this difference in color because ... >(1) I've been ripped off and sold a lesser species like African >"Mahogany" in the second batch, >(2) the first batch oxidized and darkened like Cherry, so I should just >be patient, or >(3) there is much color variation even within H. Mahogany so I should >learn my lesson and buy all of the wood for a project at the same time >from the same source? > >Lars
Mahogany darkens naturally. Depending on the difference I'd suggest giving it time or just putting the boards for the top out in the sun. (Which is admittedly easier to do if you're in Phoenix.)
--RC "Sometimes history doesn't repeat itself. It just yells 'can't you remember anything I've told you?' and lets fly with a club. -- John W. Cambell Jr.
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