timbrennan01824

I just completed my first real piece of furniture (small applause); the Planter's Desk from NYW with some dimension modifications to fit a computer and its user better.

Here's my problem: I purchased the moulding (then modified it) instead of milling it to save time and $ on router bits. Turns out, though, the moulding is of a different species.

Above are test pieces of the pine desk and the poplar(?) moulding with a coat of wax-free shellac over most of it.

This pic accentuates the mismatch of the colors. I was hoping to just use the wax-free shellac and then seal with poly, but now I need to fix the color problem. Do I need to stain the whole thing darker and try to make the moulding even darker than the desk? Or do you think it's possible to just stain the moulding with a color match?

I'm so close, and yet, so far! Help!

Wood4Fun

It sounds like your intent was to go with a pretty much natural color when done.. based on the fact that you were planning on just doing shellac.

You might be able to get away with doing a light dye job on the moulding to at least get it closer. Something like a real weak mixture of the Trans Tint honey amber comes to mind.

In my experience, I've never been able to get woods to match color properly and usually end up making things worse.... but I know it can be done. I think they guys that can do it really well are actually making money doing restorations and repairs.
I'd venture to say that if you decided to just stain the whole piece, you will still see differences between the two woods unless you treat one differently than the other to blend.

if it were me, knowing my limitations with changing the color of woods, I'd either just accept that they are different and say that was on purpose, or I'd give the dye option a shot.

firehawkmph

Tim,
Nice job on the desk unit. Why not just get the molding in pine and replace the poplar pieces. I know it seems like a p.i.t.a. now, but in the long run, it may be much easier and get you the results you want.
Mike Hawkins

woodnthings

The poplar has a "greenish" color, the pine a "reddish" color.They don't work together well. A very light wipe on stain might work on the poplar, but if not look for some pine. Seems like it's only 3 pieces, No Big Deal. I have sprayed stain before and it allows a build up of the stain to match other woods. That's also a possibility, but if not look for some pine. NBD.
bill

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