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I just purchased a nice piece of Clario Walnut and sliced it up into a few sets today. When I purchased the wood the outside was a nice rich brown (to be expected from aging). When I resawed the wood it looks much lighter and some areas look more towards gray then brown. Over all it is still a nice piece of wood but here is my question....Is this common for walnut? Do some stain or are there other tricks to get the wood to be a nice rich brown color?

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Brad
Avon, OH

Where did the edit button go?

Forgive my spelling....Claro Walnut!

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Brad
Avon, OH

Finish always darkens, of course. I'm pretty sure that walnut, much like cherry, will darken and even up quite a bit if you leave it out in the sun for a day or two (not outside, but in a window). Make sure to turn it or you'll end up with a board with a light side and a dark side (which binds the universe together)

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

I think when you sand it all over, it'll even out. I haven't posted pics yet, but I will try to post a set a Claro that I have. One is how it looks now (kinda grey/brown) and the other a pic of the set when it was wiped down which a beautiful dark brown..

Hope these aren't too big.....

Walnut doesn't darken anywhere near as much from sun as cherry.

BTW, what is perceived as darkening from a fresh finish is actually reduction in specular glare.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.