Replies

1. 
   RMillard | May 01, 2007 12:34am | #1

   Brad805,

   I've not read his method, but I've used lye several times on cherry with excellent results. The only time I was not happy with the outcome, was on curly cherry, but in retrospect I should have done more testing on actual curly samples, because what looked great on regular cherry, turned out too dark on the curly lumber. I also apply a glaze of Bartley gel stain, which does obscure the grain just a bit, but gives a great color and depth to the wood.  The lye is fairly nasty stuff so you have to use caution, but it goes on evenly and if you get lap marks they can be fixed by rubbing some more lye on with an synthetic abrasive pad.

    

   Rob Millard

   http://www.americanfederalperiod.com

   
   

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   Edited 4/30/2007 5:35 pm ET by RMillard

2. 
   RMillard | May 01, 2007 12:43am | #2

   Brad805,

   I ment to attach a photo of a simple side table I finished with the lye and gel stain method.

   I also left out, that the great advantage of the lye it how stable the color is over time. As everyone knows cherry changes color very quickly, but when treated with the lye, the color remains very stable. I have a small box that was treated with lye in 1995 or 1996 and it is the same color inside and out, despite being in a room that gets a lot of sun.

   Rob Millard

   http://www.americanfederalperiod.com

   
1. 
   brad805 | May 01, 2007 01:12am | #3

   Huge thanks, I will try this for sure.  Which gel stain do you use?

1. 
   RMillard | May 01, 2007 02:50am | #4

   Brad805,

   You're welcome.

   I use the Bartley Pennsylvania Cherry, over a wash coat of shellac.

   Rob Millard

   http://www.americanfederalperiod.com

    

1. 
   hammer1 | May 01, 2007 07:36am | #5

   Rob, can I ask what you use for lye and how you mix it. I haven't had much luck with lime on mahogany, either. Any hints on that mix? You are right about lye being nasty, it can bubble up when added to hot water and spit in your face.Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

1. 
   RMillard | May 01, 2007 01:28pm | #6

   Hammer1,

   At one time I used Red Devil drain cleaner, but it is no longer made ( or at least I can't find it). I now use a drain cleaner sold at Lowe's under the name of Roebic, but any 100% sodium hydroxide product would work. I mix it with distilled water, but I don't have an exact ratio, since each batch is mixed to work with the wood on hand. A good starting point would be 1 teaspoon to 8 oz of water.

   The lime is mixed with about a heaping tablespoon to a quart of distilled water. The lime mixture is much less forgiving when it comes to the application and is best sprayed on. Of course the lye can't be sprayed, but it seems to go on very easily with a brush.

   Rob Millard

   http://www.americanfederalperiod.com