Keith Newton
Thanks, The last time I actually used any of these kind of coloring processes was over 30 years ago, when I was in my old shop. I used lye to darken Padauk, which turns dark purplish brown, similar to East Indian Rosewood. After committing to it, I didn't know if I needed to do something to neutralize it before finishing. The vinegar would just turn it back to orange, so I rinsed it with water, which meant that it needed sanding again for raised grain, which then needed touch-up.

Finally I got it finished, but decided that it would have been a whole lot easier to just use a stain. Back then, I had a good paint store within a mile of here, that had a lot of depth of experience. I got them to mix me a stain for Genuine Mahogany that was really close to that color. But they are long gone now. I surely wish I had gotten that formula before they closed.