Staining Redwood

[Wolfie351]

I enjoyed my most recent redwood build (3rd place Nov GOM) so much I decided my next project will be an all redwood LP.  Did some testing on some scrap (very light figuring) so the final product (with a lot more figuring) will be more dramatic.  Thought I'd share my results if anyone else wanted to do a redwood build in the future.

From top to bottom...
-Cherry Red
-Natural (clear gloss)
-Cherry to clear burst

This second set was first dyed black and heavily sanded back
-Clear Gloss
-Brown to clear burst (should have started with a more dark brown)
-Cherry Red
-Brown

 

[bagman67]

Swanky.  I like that cherry burst a lot.

 

[jackthehack]

The cherry to clear burst is my favorite...

 

[Cagey]

I can't pick one. They all look really rich. Any of them would look great on a top.

 

[greywolf]

+1 on the cherry burst , although I'd keep it subtle

 

[croquet hoop]

The first cherry burst looks great. I wonder how it would look if you dyed the wood brown, not black, before sanding. I find the effect of the black stain too strong on the second set, as if the wood was burnt, hence my questioning. But it is mainly a matter of taste. Honestly none of them looks wrong.

 

[Patrick from Davis]

+1 to this, or even amber.  It is basically a yellow with a toned down brown.  After the sand the yellow would mostly be gone, but the figure would jump.
Patrick

 

[Wolfie351]

I'll probably stick to clear gloss for my LP build but it was fun testing out some options.  PRS did a redwood topped cherry to clear burst a few years back and it looked good but not jaw dropping great IMO.  Figured redwood just looks so good on it's own, the figuring moves when you move it around and look at it from different angles.  I should have made a video of that for the Nov GOTM, I would've won dammit!  j/k  The dye seems to lessen that effect though and hold the figuring into place, if that makes any sense.  If I have any scrap left, I would like to try the sanded brown suggestion.  But, I have to same some for the headstock veneer and for any mistakes I may will make

 

[stubhead]

Cherry.