Antique-ing?

**brownkm52** · 09-19-2007, 08:42 PM

I'm still working on the antique mahogany desk refinishing... and I've run into a bit of a snag. The top is in two pieces... one piece was in pretty decent shape, so I just had to sand it down... the other had some really deep gouges in it, so I had to plane a few layers off to get them out. Pre-finish, they looked like a pretty close match... but now, after a number of finish coats, the piece I sanded (top) is showing some beautiful dark swirls and "antique" look, while the piece I planed (bottom) looks pretty flat. I think the difference is some of the original stain showing through?

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1395/...6a099b8ca6.jpg

Anyway, I there anything I can do at this stage to get the planed piece to match up a little better with the other? I tried just flowing another dark coat of stain onto the surface, but it didn't "stick" at all, and mostly wiped off when I went to put another finish coat on top (24 hours later). Anybody have a better idea?

It's not a disaster the way it is... it's just my "pefectionist" streak showing through.

- Thanks, Kevin

**Cody Colston** · 09-19-2007, 09:24 PM

I'm purely guessing here but I expect the piece you abraded with sandpaper is absorbing more stain than the piece you planed, plus the sanded piece still had more of the "old" patina left than the planed piece.

A knowledgeable finisher could probably use a glaze to make the pieces match but I don't know enough to advise on this. Perhaps someone else will chime in with better advice.

Cody
Tyler, TX

He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep for that which he cannot lose.

**stretch2187** · 09-20-2007, 12:14 AM

You're going to have to use a glaze to make it match. However, applying a glaze will probably require you to spray on a seal coat over the glaze as wiping or brushing will smear the glaze.

To glaze it, get some Van Dyke Brown pigment from a paint store (oil based). Mix a cup of it with about a half gallon of paint thinner. Wipe on a wet coat and let it dry. Try to get it darker than you want it and then take off the excess with some 0000 steel wool. If you can't get it dark enough with owe coat, you'll have to seal the first coat with finish and before you apply your second coat.

**dbriski** · 09-20-2007, 11:36 AM

Anytime you are doing one surface, to make them match you need to do the same to both/all pieces. So even if the other piece only needed sanding but you had to plane the other, you should plane them both. For thickeness and for final finish.

Sorry I don't have any ideas to help fix it.