I am working on a set of large frames for a customer. They want them to match the existing ones that they have. I made some prototype pieces on my Pro XXL to get the profile right but decided to have a millwork shop do the actual cutting given the amount that I needed.
Now I have 8 12’ sapele boards cut with the proper profile in my garage and need to start the next phase. I want to cut some short pieces off and do some stain samples so the customer can pick the one that most closely matches.
Any thoughts on the best candidates to put on the sample boards?
Looks like fruitwood, walnut, maybe dark chestnut? It also depends on the base color of the wood. Sapele can have quite a variation of color. You are talking about the outside frame? The plaques look like natural black walnut.
Yes, it is the outside frame. I think the current ones are some variant of mahogany and the sapele I have has a uniform reddish mahogany look. I know the pictures are not great. I am relying on the customer shots since I can’t take my camera into the area.
I am also making a backer board and having a seamstress do the fabric internal pieces.
Often Mahogany is really Sapele sold by unscrupulous vendors. In my experience working with both they are quite similar in how they work and look. Besides stain what will be the finish? Finish also affects your color of the stain. Oil base finish tends to warm up (yellowing) while water based tends to leave the color of the wood and/or stain the same color. The downside to water based is it raises the grain and has to be sanded after sealer. Usually takes two coats of water based sealer and 1-3 top coats.
I like waterbased stains because they penetrate so well.usually I prespray with water to get rid of the grain raise then flood the stain with a sponge, wiping off the excess. Works really well with open pore wood such as mahogany.
