Thanks again to all who responded.

I think the problem is solved. I put on five coats of the same stain,
waiting six hours between recoating, and I've pretty much reached the
desired shade.

-- Ray

"Ray" wrote in message
...
Thanks to all who gave me advice on oil vs. water finishing coat. I've
decided on oil.

But there's another problem. When I sanded the table top, the wood
turned out to be not mahogany but something that was very blonde, almost
white.

I used the Minwax color chart to choose a shade that seemed closest to the
original.

But even when I put on two coats, the top is a lighter shade than the
original. Using two coats didn't help much.

I haven't put on the finishing coat yet.

Question: Can I now use a darker chade of Minwax over the one I just put
on?