Finishing Walnut: 4 Steps to Create A Beautiful Reddish Brown Wood Finish

This is a step-by-step tutorial on how we finished a solid walnut table top to 1). hide sapwood 2). create a gorgeous reddish color toned with a super dark brown, and 3). still keeps the wonderful nuance of real, warm wood.

The result is pretty cool, and looks fantastic with the solid hard white maple base.

Even if you're not crazy about the reddish color, hang tight. This very same process can be used with slightly different dye color to go more brown, more amber, or anything else.

We like to give you wood finishing tips and recipes from time to time, and here's the latest one. In this one, you'll learn about using:
dye
shellac
oil stain
clear satin aerosol lacquer

[mikegoppert]

Am I the only one that really enjoys the contrast between the dark and sap wood color? I think it's beautiful.

This is useful information, and not too fast or skipping over what we need to DIY. This covers an important gap in my knowledge, probably many others. Seems you all know what woodworkers need, hope this translates into success for all.

[MrBigdrewbowski]

Thank you! Very informative. I like how you described not just what you were doing but why.

[Simplecove]

That came out awesome! I will be trying this in the future.

[stephenrussell]

Dude. when you were making the piece, you made it look so simple. but the shape and color are absolutely beautiful. I'm torn though. i love the bare wood, but the stained wood is just as beautiful. you make some really good videos. thanks so much for making these. i really enjoy them.

[appolop]

I've been watching so many video's on YouTube to find the perfect color for my nightstands. Finally, this is the color that I'm looking for. Thank You very much.

[matthewstewart]

I tried this exact technique and materials on Douglas Fir and it turned out amazing! I only did one coat of dye to blend the sap and early wood. Any more coats made the piece too dark in the end. Thank you Mark for sharing this.

[georgegri]

Thank you so much for all the detail instructions! Love it!

[thomaszaccone]

I like both the stained version and the original brown. Both are beautiful in their own way.

[edlauren]

Thank you for this video. Very interesting idea about mineral oil with shellac application!

[WideWorldofTrains]

I have this old Desk/dresser combo. Where the top 2 drawers normally would be there is a fold down door and inside there are slots where office/desk supplies, letters and paperwork would be. The rest of the piece has 3 normal drawers. It had green paint on it and I almost sold it for 40 bucks but decided to keep it. I just discovered it is solid Black Walnut! I stripped the paint now I want to stain and finish it thats why I am here on your video

[AssafLevyIL]

some very neat tips here, especially mixing the shellac with mineral oil, never seen this. thank you!

[michaelcapkanis]

WOW...Thanks!! Exactly what I'm trying to achieve with some 35-year-old walnut speakers. I was looking for a reddish color with enhanced grain contrast to approximate something rosewood-ish. As you point out in this video, my speakers have become pale due to sun exposure. Kudos for your logical, sequential and clearly explained and demonstrated approach. A genuine tutorial. Nothing else on the interwebs comes close. I'm a rank rookie, but I feel confident now!....

[abcleft]

Thank you, that was informative, educational and well presented.

[mynameismason]

I just did my first finish last week, And it puts mine to shame! I'm going to try this on my next project. Thanks for the guide!

[antonstafeyev]

I like the one You started with more then the finished version

[alphaqhs]

Amazing how skills make or break the project.

[blackemmons]

Nice looking piece. Really like your series of videos on finishing. JimE

[matermark]

Great tutorial. I liked the color much, much more BEFORE the glazing step than after it when it had a little bit of orange & red tones... it looked much more like an exotic wood, even a little bit like a cross of fresh cut Padauk mixed with Goncales Alves...

[rtalbot]

Terrific video and very helpful. I am currently making a piece out of Texas native walnut. Honestly the wood looks great but my finish just looks plain. Will be sanding back down to the wood and trying this technique. Love the final color. Thanks also for the tip for making shellac more usable.