Replies

1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Feb 12, 2006 06:20am | #1

   Hi Christina,

   Aha, you've just discovered one of the many virtues of Cherry.  Light will cause cherry to darken, it will even darken in the dark, although not as fast.  Sunlight will darken it even faster!

   The end result you want will in all likelyhood determine the finish to use.  I'm using Tung Oil so as to bring out the color/grain of the cherry in the jewelry boxes that I make.

   Check out the Skills & Materials forum as there are several discussions regarding finishing cherry:  Another cherry finish question, Best Cherry Finish, etc.  There are some interesting observations in my post "Using dust & glue to fill imperfections and I also posted a question here regarding lining cherry jewelry boxes with velvet that you may find interesting as well.

   Best of luck with your project,

    

   Bob @ Kidderville Acres

   Use whatever tool needed to Git 'r Done!

2. 
   stantheman | Feb 13, 2006 08:45pm | #2

   Christina

   You should be able to find a lot of info on cherry by searching. 

   Don't use cherry if you don't want it to get darker.  the basics are that cherry will darken naturally on exposure to light and oxygen.  that contributes to its charm, as it will continually darken for many years until it gets close to that dark red tone that you see commercial furniture stained as "cherry".  Some folks advocate giving the wood a few hours in the sun to "tan" it and get much of the color change started.  If you put a piece of cherry in the sun, and laid something on top of part of it, you would see the tan lines in just a couple of hours.  The rate slows down rapidly after that first exposure. 

   I have worked a lot with cherry in the last few years, and the color varies a lot from piece to piece, that's why you often have to stain it to get all the pieces to initially match. 

   I prefer to use a couple of coats of boiled linseed oil topped with  blonde or amber shellac, and let it go from there. 

    

1. 
   loucarabasi | Feb 21, 2006 01:12pm | #3

   Hey stantheman, Will cherry darken with the flourecsent lighting in my shop. can I purchase a plant light becouse of the current weather in my area and get the same results with darkening?

   Thanx I dont work with cherry much,and will take any advice i can get,Lou

1. 
   stantheman | Feb 22, 2006 05:29am | #4

   lou

   I don't think fluorescent will do it.   Plant light maybe, but it would be quicker to take it to a tanning salon and zap it. 

2. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Feb 23, 2006 04:37am | #6

   Lou,

   Let it mature naturally. 

   If the piece is exposed to daylight, it will darken faster, but not completely, unless it remains in the sun forever.  Cherry will only darken for the length of time it is in the sun, and then will continue to darken to marutiry which may vary from piece to piece.  If you are fortunate to have boards all from the same tree, it MAY be more uniform in color, but still no gurantees.  Avoid the sapwood and pith in the center of the log.

   Hell, cherry will darken in the dark, just much slower.

   Regards,

    Bob @ Kidderville Acres

   Kidderville, NH

    

    

   Use whatever tool needed to Git 'r Done!

3. 
   notDusty | Feb 22, 2006 11:19am | #5

   Christina ,

                       I used to buy what is called steamed Cherry , the process made the sapwood darker and the boards more uniform in color . Sometimes after sanding the color changes a bit . I would recommend sealing all at one time as opposed to one piece at a time . The darkening or what is called the mellowing of Cherry should not be confused with patina . A piece of antique furniture that has been polished and worn and rubbed like a handrail on a stairway has patina , a new piece of wood has no patina ,,,, yet .

                        regards       dusty