If you're using those colors, and those materials, the secret is as follows:
Mask the front and back, doesn't have to be perfect. You can leave 1/4 inch or so of the front and back exposed.
Shoot the sides with the darker color - DEEP red mahogany.
Get it good and dark.
Remove the masking.
Shoot the lighter color on the top and back, that is the DARK red mahogany - yes DARK is lighter than DEEP.
Go back and reshoot the edges to "burst" in the DEEP red mahogany at the perifery. Build it as you like.
If you fubar - you needn't sand much at all. Just wash the wood with laquer thinner or acetone from the center to the edges. You'll end up with pink wood, but you're gonna color it anyway... no big deal.
When you get the edges bursted ok, let it dry a day and then begin the clearcoats.
This is a more dicey part here... you MAY see a thickness line where you masked it... very faint. Let the finish cure a good long while. The line should sand out REALLY easy with 600 grit.
Level the whole finish with 600 grit after about three weeks of curing.
Buff it out.
If the line, or grain reappear after buffing... you didn't let it cure long enuf. Personally, if some grain reappears, I leave it. Looks nice and funky that way, esp since my buff outs are not perfect (all done by hand, not buffer).
And thats it.
Mask the front and back, doesn't have to be perfect. You can leave 1/4 inch or so of the front and back exposed.
Shoot the sides with the darker color - DEEP red mahogany.
Get it good and dark.
Remove the masking.
Shoot the lighter color on the top and back, that is the DARK red mahogany - yes DARK is lighter than DEEP.
Go back and reshoot the edges to "burst" in the DEEP red mahogany at the perifery. Build it as you like.
If you fubar - you needn't sand much at all. Just wash the wood with laquer thinner or acetone from the center to the edges. You'll end up with pink wood, but you're gonna color it anyway... no big deal.
When you get the edges bursted ok, let it dry a day and then begin the clearcoats.
This is a more dicey part here... you MAY see a thickness line where you masked it... very faint. Let the finish cure a good long while. The line should sand out REALLY easy with 600 grit.
Level the whole finish with 600 grit after about three weeks of curing.
Buff it out.
If the line, or grain reappear after buffing... you didn't let it cure long enuf. Personally, if some grain reappears, I leave it. Looks nice and funky that way, esp since my buff outs are not perfect (all done by hand, not buffer).
And thats it.