Sanded wood turned darker

[Paulski]

I was gifted this Lawson electric clock that needed a bit of TLC, so I sanded it down and tired to refinish it, but the wood turned darker. I assumed it had a Shellac finish and thats what gave it its warm amber glow, but when I tired clear and amber shellac, the wood got even darker. I also tried a clear poly coat just to see what how it'd look. Any ideas how to restore it back to its amber finish?

 

[BigMike782]

If it was a production produced item it likely was laquer.

 

[Stelzer]

Denatured alcohol dissolves shellac. Very easy way to test the finish. You can remove your finish, sand to a higher grit, and use either a clear shellac or a clear waterbased poly, neither of which will darken the wood. Do keep in mind though most woods will look darker once a finish is applied, so before applying your next finish, solvent wipe it and note the darkness so you know what to expect.

After the clear finish, you can either tone the wood with a reduced amber stain or use a gel stain to "creep up" on your desired color. Stain matching is an art and each piece comes with its own set of challenges.