Finish carpenters + wood workers throw me a bone.

[false_aesthetic]

I'm making a 1x12 cabinet for my amp. Made me some panels. Gotta find a drum sander before I join them. This gives me a few days to come up with the best finish.

Ideally I'd like to darken/redden the mahogany and keep the maple as white/natural as possible. For everything else I make out of maple its tung oil. I like the feel and the lack of gloss.

Can I mask those maple sections or will the stain bleed?

Gel stain?
Seal maple then stain mahogany?

Thanks
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[Mabouya]

Layered Color: Special Effects with Stain | Woodworking | Blogs | Videos |Free Project Plans | How To

http://www.staining123.com/QALibrary.asp?pid=3&page=139

Can i mask off sections of wood i want to stain? - Woodworking Talk - Woodworkers Forum

[j44ke]

Given the different absorption rates for maple and mahogany, you might simply be able to treat the maple as desired and the mahogany will darken up enough to get the right light/dark look you want. Best thing to do is make a test piece and run through several surface treatments.

[JoB]

Best thing to do is make a test piece and run through several surface treatments.

that's good advice right there.

[spopepro]

Do a test piece for sure.

I don't think you want to straight stain. I think you might want to use a lighter colored watco danish oil and then wax. It should pop the grain, and darken the mahogany. The maple will turn golden rather than white, but should stay pretty light in color.

Oh, and guitar or Hi-fi?

[false_aesthetic]

Yeah I have 6 scraps to test with. Just figured a bit of guidance would help things along.

Guitar cabinet. I've got a 135watt Twin Reverb and I'd like to mess around with some of the new tiny heads that are available.

[EricKeller]

dewaxed blond shellac is always a good first step

[defspace]

Wow. That's gonna look awesome! Post some pics when you're done.

I'm far less experienced than lots of these guys, I only know enough to get myself in trouble.

I wonder if something like a few applications of thinned (mineral spirits?) boiled linseed oil would be worth considering? The mahogany should be a lot more porous than the maple and would soak up a lot more than the maple.

Maybe a dark grain filler? Shoot a thin sealer coat over everything so you won't darken the maple, fill the grain with something dark. The mahogany will take up the grain filler and the maple should not. Timbermate Wood Filler Of course, you may not want a flat surface.

[Diablo de Acero]

You can trying masking(taping) off the maple. Then mix a batch of aniline dye and lacquer thinner or alcohol. Mix to desired strength and stain. You can seal that after it dries. If you want a durable clear finish. Go with polyurethane(water based) Water White Clear. it will the maple the lightest of all clear finishes. Having said that you can reverse the masking and seal or wax the maple. Peel the tape. Use a water base aniline dye on the mahogany(it won't take to the maple). Wax or finish the whole thing. Butcher block wax and conditioner is what I use anymore.

I work for Dr.Z Amps and do all the wooden fronts for their Z Wreck amps.
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[Diablo de Acero]

As a amendment to the previous post, you can just clear or oil/wax the cab without stain. The mahogany will darken with exposure to light(and finish) anyway. Mahogany.Walnut,Rosewood,Vermillion and Purpleheart all do this. You can sit and watch change by itself over time. This might be the easiest way to go. Good luck.

[Jaq]

btw, if you want oil-based stains and varnishes and such, and can't find them (Los Angeles county has a ban on a lot of things), head up to Thousand Oaks (just inside Ventura County), and you can find them. I needed some special paint mixed a few weeks ago, and was able to get it it in TO.