Got a recalcitrant King Billy Pine top on an f-4 I'm currently building. K.B. works a bit like North American Red Ceder, but the timber is much lighter in colour. There in lies the rub... the lightness of colour.
The tone (in the white) is great and the hours already plowed into this piece (bloody string holders!#@<g> are long and hard. Problem is the K.B. is picking up stains and glue run from the ebony binding plus an accumulation of assorted other visual detractions (this stuff is the "sponge" of unfinished tonewoods!).
Anyhow, got a customer that's crazy about the beast and would love a "black top." O.K. folks, I'm a bloke who builds mandolins without stains (au natural) and just a thin layer of 'ol f.p. to cover and protect. Here's the question: What's a reasonably successful way to get a good looking black top? Due to the glue seep problem I doubt that I can directly dye the raw top without getting a splotchy appearance along the edges. Anybody ever mix a timber dye with f.p. and apply (after a sealing coat) to obtain a finish with good "depth." Any suggestions appreciated before I commence "reinventing the wheel."
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