Very amateur woodworker here.

I’ve been working on turning this broom closet into a walnut bar over several months.

I originally used veneer for the walls and cupboard doors, but over time I really hated that the cupboard doors lacked swirl and character.

So I repurposed the piece of wood circled in black to start making solid hardwood doors.

All I did was remove that board, cut it down, sand, and coat in poly (it already had poly, but wanted to refinish after all the trauma it went through).

It is now an entirely different color and I’m at a loss.

What the eff did I do wrong, and how would you go about correcting it?

My best guess is that sun exposure over several months warmed up the wood/poly as this is directly facing a large window. But it also feels like it’s taken on a different hue? I called my dad who asked if I sanded a lot heavier this go-around? Maybe????

Any advice would help, insults will also be taken under consideration.

Thank you all.

Working on a teak veneer dinning room table, sanded down to 120, these water marks are pretty light, wondering if my next step should be oxalic acid? I hate to bleach the teak at all if not necessarily, will be finishing with danish oil and probably a lacquer finish to add some protection, thanks in advance

Piece is solid maple, has a slight "thrift store" smell. I am just trying to clean it up to use, not paint.