Multi toned wood on dresser....

[Becky]

A couple years ago, my husband brought home an old ugly dresser and asked if I wanted to do something with it. Of course, I wanted to.

This thing was hidious, straight from the 80s, ugly handles and orangish stain. So I sanded it all down.

I bought a stain with a shine coat already in it. (name brand, but forget which) And I applied a few coats. Well, funny thing happened, Once it dried, it dried in two differnt colors, two differnt types of wood. (Which was not noticable at all when it was original or sanded)

I love it, it turned out great. The whole thing is one color, and the trim pieces turned out lighter.

What would make this happen? I assume it is two differnt types of wood, but why wasnt it shown before it dried?

[Tumbleweed]

Wood is a very interesting thing. You can actually have the same type of wood but it all depends on how aged it is. Could be when that furniture was made they knew what color to stain it and thus knew they could get away with using newer and older wood. Plus often times it really wasn't stain but varnish. But that said, you may be right that they used two totally different kinds of wood.

I'm not sure I'd be able to tell some woods apart once they are sanded unless I really looked close at the grain, etc.

I've learned a great trick that works most of the time. Once I have it sanded I wet the wood and usually any different types of wood used will show up right then.

It is odd how they used to use different types of wood. I just recently had that happen to my Mom's bedroom set. It is a beautiful old set but there was a time, way back when, that painting furniture was the "in" thing. I have no idea why. So once I stripped it, it was very plain to see I had two totally different kinds of wood.

You should post some pictures. For that matter I should post some pictures of my Mom's bedroom set. I think I have before pictures...I hope I do. Eeek, no I don't. They would have been on my PC when it died and all my pictures were lost. Dang. I may post them anyway.

Anyway, I'm glad yours turned out nice. I love that you are into doing stuff like that. So am I! I just wish I had more time to hunt down old pieces to redo.

[Becky]

Oh I also wish I could more old pieces to work with. It's such a good stress reliever for me. I just forget all time when I am working on something like that. Allthough, I do get impaitent and hurry it along so I can seei t done. LOL

I also lost all my pictures a couple months ago on my computer. I will take some pics of the dresser so you can see. And add them this week.

If you do get around to it, Id love to the see bedroom set.

[Tumbleweed]

Can't wait to see the pictures. I still have yet to put the handles back on the dresser/chest of drawers but will try to do that. My Mom has yet to actually move into her bedroom. It still is just too much going up and down the stairs every day even with the stair gliders plus there are two steps the glider couldn't take care of so it just makes it difficult.

What a bummer since I redid so many things in that bedroom so she'd have a nice space all her own.

I think I'm getting off-topic. Whoops.