Jeremy,
If you want a deeper color, turn the pen and sand it to about 600 grit, then paint it with dye. I use wood dye, from CAUSA. I cut it with DNA and it dries fairly quickly, if you don't soak it too much. Hit it with 600 again, then go through MM steps, starting after 2,400. I did that with one last year and it turned out like this:
<br />This is also my first attempt. Try it, you'll like it.