Mahogany veneer is discolored where it was exposed to air. Huh?

[Joe Emenaker]

Here's something that has be puzzled.

A couple of years ago, I bought about 45 sheets of nice mottled mahogany veneer. I had a plan for it, but the project was put on hold, so I stacked it neatly in a corner of my shop.

I pulled it out today to find something strange. The top piece has darkened on its top side. The underside (and all of the rest of the sheets) have darkened about 1 inch in from their edges (kinda like how paper yellows around the edge on old books). So, I'm guessing that some sort of reaction has taken place with the air. I know cherry darkens over time, but I've never heard of mahogany doing this.

So now, I'm faced with what to do. I'd like to get these sheets all uniform again. Oddly, I actually prefer the darkened color of the wood that was exposed to air. So, if there's a way that I can quickly "expose" the rest of the sheets sufficiently, that would be good. Otherwise, I need a way of getting back to the original blond color.

Suggestions?

- Joe

[B A R R Y]

Probably more light than air.

If you expose the sheets to sunlight, they should "catch up". A few years ago, I built a mahogany table to hold a "wardian case" with plants in side. The table top shows lighter strips where items prevented sunlight from reaching the wood. Once exposed, the color matched right up. Other stock that I have is much lighter when freshly cut than exposed to light.

[dadiOH]

It is light that changes the color. All woods change color; some lighten, some darken. The only way to get the original color back is to sand it off. No point in doing so, though...just make whatever it is you plan to make and all will match in short order (a few weeks/months).