Spot the difference

[Twist]

Well the difference is obvious, even more obvious in reality. I would like to know why this has happened.

It is for bed frame, the section on the bottom is the headboard and has gone a darkish red which I don't like much. The top piece is one of the side panels which has a nice golden/natural sheen. Both have been finished with Tung oil the same way:
Sanded to 400
Day 1: Generous amount rubbed on with rag, excess wiped off.
Day 2: Another coat
Day 3, 4 and 5: Light sand with 1200 or steel wool then another coat
Wait a week: Apply final coat

Any thoughts on why they look so different, the wood which is Messmate came from the same batch and looked the same before I applied the Tung oil.

Spot The.jpgDifference.jpg

[Fumbler]

Twist, looking at the pics, the un-oiled bedhead looks considerably darker than the rail to begin with, so in essence, it will be darker after oiling/finishing. If your not happy with them, i'll take em off your hands!! hahahaha.

That should make a beautiful bed, regardless of the slight colour difference, its striking timber.

[Christos]

I am guessing that is the nature of wood and some pieces will darken a little more then the rest. It this is on the bottom part of the head rest will it not be hidden when the bed sheets and covers are put on the mattress?

[bigbuzzard]

I don't know about anybody else, but before I do any finishing on a piece, I make a sample board with the wood of my project and then going thru all the steps. This way I have a very good idea of what the final wood will look like. Or if I need to change my finishing schedule.

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[Twist]

Thanks for the replies, I guess it could be a natural thing I'm just surprised that the 6 boards on the headboard went this reddish colour. But the two singular boards didn't (only one shown in the photo)

You will see the top half of the headboard the bottom will mostly be covered by the mattress.

I'm still happy with it and I think once it is all put together and has a mattress on it it won't be too noticeable I just would've preferred it to be all be the golden/natural sheen.

The boards come out of a rooftop in Rosebud/Melbourne so I guess there is a chance that the two side boards had more sun exposure or something or for some reason they coloured slightly different and the Tung oil accentuated this.

Is this one of the characteristics of Tung oil? Do you think something like osmo polyx-oil would've been a better choice to avoid this. Or is this something that all finishes do?

I did do a test piece with the Tung oil, didn't think I would need test every board.

[Fumbler]

I believe it's the timber as it sometimes has an "orange tinge to it".

[Xanthorrhoeas]

Are these before and after photos, or both after the finish? Fumbler seems to think the before and after scenario but you don't state that.

Also, if these are recycled timbers why do you think they came from the same batch?

I presume that you have checked that the headboard looks darker from all angles? The reason for this comment is that most wood displays some chatoyance - it looks different from different angles.

In any case, as Christos has said, wood is a natural and variable product. In my experience that is specially so with recycled timbers -- you can never be sure how it will respond to any finish.

[Twist]

No, these are not before and after photos they are all finished boards.

I was told they came from same batch as in the same roof in Rosebud, but I guess you never know, might've just been a nice story to make the customer happy.

It definitely looks the same tinge from different angles, headboard is reddish, sideboard is golden not matter how you look at it.

I guess it is what it is.

Just a bit bummed after testing one board and being very happy with the results (golden sheen) then applying to all and having some come up very red.

[Xanthorrhoeas]

Yes, I know what you mean. The golden sheen does look great. I like the red too - but then I build in red cedar a fair bit!

If it's any consolation I don't think that you could have done anything to prevent the colour difference.

[John Lennon]

Hi
Just looking at the ends of the timber in the photo, the lower ones appear to have the grain run left to right, while the top one appears to run vertical.
I think it's called Plain sawn and Quarter sawn. Would that explain the different results?
Regards
John L.

[Twist]

Nice one, John Lennon

I never noticed that and I think you are right, that is also causing part of the effect.

All part of the learning curve I guess.

Thanks

[John Lennon]

Hi Twist

Your welcome.
A thought from a "fumbling beginner but having fun" amature, I don't think you can do much with the head board to lighten it, but if you wish to match the sides to it, maybe with a piece of scrap you could sand it back and give it a light coat of brown dye to match the headboards, then follow with the tung again.

Just a thought maybe someone with more experience will comment on that?

Regards
John L.

[Twist]

Since I've come to learn it was a natural thing, not a mishap from me, I've come to accept it and are going to roll with it

[John Lennon]

Great, have fun, love to see a finished product.

[chode]

Just out of interest, did you apply the oil to all the timber pictured at the same time? Or was the lighter stuff oiled a week later or something?