Matching Mahogany

[SteveF]

I am at the starting stage and far from finishing, but like to plan ahead
I have searched forum but without much luck
I am attempting to make a box from "mahogany" or at least that is what I was told it was
these are fairly narrow boards so will need to glue 4 together to get my needed dimensions
due to the fact they are all from different boards\ trees I have quite a variation in colour
I will do the best I can to match but am working with limited supplies
my mahogany is definitely not red, should it be ? It does not need to match other furniture
was it traditionally stained to help colour match glueups or just a fashion thing?

Steve

 

[AndyT]

Potassium permanganate was traditionally used to redden mahogany and match different boards. Although it's a bright purple in solution, it quickly reacts chemically with the wood to make a lovely reddish brown.
I'd link to some of my pictures of this, but they are all on photobucket and unavailable until I sort out alternatives.

If your chemist won't sell you PP (it's used to treat athlete's foot) you can find it on eBay.

 

[SteveF]

thanks Andy
that answered a few questions

Steve

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Yes. I spent years wandering around with brown/purple tide marks around my ankles.