muthrie Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 I'm going to build a desk for the office sometime after the first part of the year. I have some beautiful quarter-sawn African Mahogany for the top. Would you: 1) build the whole thing out of African Mahogany? 2) build the base out of Walnut? (Top AM) 3) build the base out of Cherry? (Top AM) Or something else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torch02 Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 Can you post any pictures of the AM? African mahogany can vary incolor so much I'd hate to make a recommendation w/o seeing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capnjack2 Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 Marilyn, I think I would go with maple or some light-colored species of wood. I made a couple of tea light holders a few years back. I made one for my wife from maple and walnut. Looked great. But I made another one for my sister-in-law out of cherry and walnut and there wasn't enough distinction between the two woods. Look in my gallery and you'll see what I mean. Jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muthrie Posted October 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 Contrast makes good sense. Also Maple since it'll be a high use desk. Here's a picture -> http://4.bp.blogspot...00/mahogany.png Here's a picture of the desk too -> http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3TciYQPICQ/TVwIuq0ddrI/AAAAAAAACPM/oX_s_B43lf0/s1600/Desk.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darnell Hagen Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 I'd do the entire thing in Mahogany. My second choice would be a Cherry base, as it ages it will come closer and closer to the Mahoganys colour. My last choice would be Maple, as I find extreme contrast in large pieces a little gaudy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muthrie Posted October 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 I'd do the entire thing in Mahogany. My second choice would be a Cherry base, as it ages it will come closer and closer to the Mahoganys colour. My last choice would be Maple, as I find extreme contrast in large pieces a little gaudy. Do you think the quarter sawn mahogany (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DhxxV-F-Vio/TapSNS2eg0I/AAAAAAAACag/ZqQoYJhRs9Y/s1600/mahogany.png) would be too much as a top. Originally, I was thinking Mahogany top with cherry base because I struggled with the Mahogany and I so enjoy working with Cherry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darnell Hagen Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 It would be pretty showy, but if you have enough for the top and the panels you could get away with it. The rest of it should be in plain straight grain then. Otherwise I'd save your lumber for the panels and find something with less figure and easier to work for the top. How about saving the mahogany for another project and making the desk in Cherry? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muthrie Posted October 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 How about saving the mahogany for another project and making the desk in Cherry? Yeah, that would do it. Yeah, AM looks really nice a panel. See my wall cabinet -> http://sheworkswood.blogspot.com/2011/07/final-pictures-of-wall-cabinet.html. Don't want a crazy lookin' top. We need one of those things that allows you to change you hair before you cut it and see what it looks like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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