Staining Maple, Part II

[Scott Parks]

Thanks to all who suggested staining my maple vanity with dye. Update on project....
This is the first attempt with Minwax...

So then I stripped it down.

This time I used blood red alcohol dye. It is still blotchy. The Sample on the left is 2 coats of dye, 3 coats of Laquer. Right side is 1 coat dye, 2 coats Laquer.

Any ideas on what I'm doing wrong? Do I need to use a conditioner with alcohol dye? Or should I just accept the fact that maple does not stain well?

I think from now on I'll go au natural.... I guess maple shouldn't be stainded.