Are you using the same alkanet root as before? Different batches will give different results, and what you find isn't always even from the same species of plant. I soak it in one part food-grade flax seed oil and two parts turpentine. Some guys use boiled linseed oil or alcohol. But I'm going to try Behlen Solar-Lux Blood Red Stain for my next refinishing project. It is said to pop the grain better than alkanet stains. Actually, it is an NGR analine dye. It sounds like a better way to go with less screwing around. I've read it is very concentrated and should be thinned considerably with denatured alcohol before being applied to the stock. Some furniture finishers are recommending 10 to 15 parts thinner to 1 part Behlens, and spraying rather than wiping. Of course, I plan to try it on some scrap walnut first.
http://www.hartvilletool.com/product/2286/stains-and-dyes
