Dear Galoots,

Short story:  I've replaced parts and added some bracing (stretchers) to this
old table.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/188990335@N.../albums/72157716378029937/w
ith/50460373107/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/188990335@N.../albums/7215771637
8029937/with/50460373107/

I need some advice on how to best match the color.  The original seems to be
garnet shellac. I don't have much experience with it.  Any advise would be
appreciated.  I would think building thin coats to a final depth of color might
work, or just adjust the cut using scraps to test the color and go for it in one
coat?  Stripping the old finish has been vetoed.

Longer story:  This has been in my wife's family for years and has suffered many
moves.  It is essentially 16 inches sawn from a very sturdy table with some
timidly tarted up wobbly planks M&T'ed to the remains of the apron for rear
legs.  Long, unsupported, often broken, often repaired.  Last repair seems to
have been some yellow expanding goo.  The only good thing I can say about it is
it seems to fill gaps.  The apron is fine-grained, plain-sawn white oak, and I
was able to find some locally. The remaining leg is QSWO but I didn't go that
route. I'm investing one plank in this project.  The replacement parts should
take finish similarly to the original.  I reproduced the blown-out rear leg in
all it's sketchiness but added stretchers to keep blow-outs from happening so
frequently.  It's received yet another bodge to keep it out of the skip.  Too
much character to pitch.

Any guidance on matching up the color would be appreciated.

Thanks

Kevin in Chantilly, which is suddenly blanketed in pine needles.