Toning Red Gum down - how to?

[r2d2 sander]

Hi,

Friends have given us a fantastic red gum table with 6 chairs in a modern straight design. We are over the moon!
We are going to use the chairs with the reclaimed timber messmate table I made a few years ago (see photo below), and use the table as a solid desk in the study.

Would it be possible to tone down the red gum to match other furniture pieces (e.g. messmate table and tassie oak floor)?

DSC_2370.jpg


Cheers

Alex, Castlemaine VIC

[LGS]

Hi Alex and welcome to the forums.
When you say "tone down" what exactly do you mean? Do you want it to look like Messmate and Vic Ash, or will you be happy with a darker more "aged" look.
A lot will depend on what finish has been used. If it's an oil finish, then the finish should darken quite a bit over the next few months. If it'a a Poly Urethane finish, it will darken, but will take longer. If it's Shellac (White), then it will probably stay as it is.

I guess if you really wanted to tone the wood down, you could use a stain.............but what's to be gained? Red Gum is magnificent timber and it appears that you have some very nice fiddleback feature on the top! I'd let it go for a couple of months and see how it looks. If, after it's settled in, maybe you could show us some pics of the table in its permanent location. may be able to help more then I think.

Regards,

Rob

[r2d2 sander]

Thanks Rob,

With toning down, I mean making it 'less red' (without putting a full paint on it of course!)

Sorry for the confusion, the one in the photo is the recycled messmate table I made a few years ago. I don't have a photo of the Red Gum Table + chairs yet, but I'm sure the table has a high gloss poly finish. The colour is deep red, and probably not a great match with the photo in the picture.

I understand what you're saying with not loosing the characteristics of the red gum, but I would like to have a matt finish so thinking about sanding down the table and giving an oil.
Would there be any other way to make it 'less red'?

Cheers

Alex

[LGS]

Hi again,
I thought it looked like very light Red Gum. If you're after a satin or matt finish, then maybe an oil finish is right for you. That or a satin Poly such as Minwax Wipe On Poly. This of course will mean sanding. If you are going to sand and refinish, you might want to think of Hard Burnished Tung Oil, or Wattyl Scandinavian Oil. You can see the method here or you can have a look at my web site. The finish is durable, will mellow and brings the grain out beautifully.
These two pics of Red Gum immediately after finishing with oil and then 8 years later, hopefully show a much browner table top now, which still shows the grain off well.

Hope this helps,

Regards,

Rob

[ubeaut]

I seriously doubt you will be able to tone down redgum to look even remotely like messmate and or Tas oak.

Oiling it will make it a deeper darker red than it probably is now it may even border on being a very dark maroon colour depending on the redgum.

Best thing to do is live with the contrast between the timbers and call it art or have some other explanation to make it look like it is supposed to be that way. You know... Something like: drawing the eye of the beholder towards the centre of the room and expanding the dimensions and and superiority of the table and chairs into a world of its own.... Blah, blah, blah, etc.

Cheers - Neil