Vanity Project Wood Selection

[Mike Goetzke]

I'm building a new vanity for a 1/2 bath in our house. My wife wants a wood top. I'm using red oak for the cabinet and was going to use the same wood for the top. I purchased some stain that my wife loves on the oak but would like the top to be darker than the cabinet. The stain is Varathane Gel Stain. This does not seem to darken with more coats or dwell time.

1) How can I make the top darker than the rest?

2) I have a nice piece of cherry I bought years ago. Maybe mix red oak and cherry? (This got my daughter in law's eye for a cherry crib a couple years ago but nothing has happened on that front yet [unsure].)

Thanks
Mike

 

[tjbnwi]

Use white oak for the top. Red oak has little to no water restiance.

Tom

 

[Mike Goetzke]

Use white oak for the top. Red oak has little to no water restiance.

Tom

My hardwood store doesn't have 8/4 white oak - any other suggestions?

Thanks

 

[Alanbach]

This might be a shot in the dark but I would take a scrap piece of the red oak and sand it to 2-3 full grits of sandpaper less than the sides. So if the sides are 220 grit just go to 120 or 150 and then try/ test your stain again. See if that gets you better absorption and therefore a darker hue???