Replies

1. 
   john_c2 | Jan 26, 2021 08:01pm | #1

   Cherry reacts to light. It doesn't go too deep. If you are planing and sanding the boards, the color will even out.

   You can leave them exposed to the sun, and the light parts will catch up to the dark.

   If you make, say, a table top from cherry, and leave a bowl on top, after acouple of weeks there will be an area of lighter wood under the bowl. The sun darkened the rest. Leave the bowl off, and after a while that spot will darken like the rest.

   It's just the nature of cherry.

2. 
   muskokalayne | Jan 26, 2021 08:03pm | #2

   I use polymerized tung oil from lee valley it has a nice matte finish and is very easy to use just wipe it on. Hope this helps cheers

3. 
   joeleonetti | Jan 27, 2021 04:15pm | #3

   My go to finish on cherry is Garnett shellac. I like the color it immediately imparts on top of the wood. Then, as the cherry darkens it gets even a bit darker looking. At some point, I am planning to try either tung or lindseed oil first before the shellac but haven't done so yet. I am a hobby woodworker and my experience is limitied to finishing about 10 pieces of cherry at this point.

4. FWW Editor
   ben_strano | Jan 27, 2021 04:47pm | #4

   Have you read Tim Purro's article? His finish for cherry is astounding in person!
   https://www.finewoodworking.com/project-guides/finishing/dark-rich-cherry-finish-with-household-products

1. 
   DRBWWing | Jan 28, 2021 09:32am | #7

   PDF not available to download. I am a member.

1. 
   john_c2 | Jan 28, 2021 10:00am | #9

   I just tried it, and it downloaded fine. Are you sure you were logged in? Try another article?

1. 
   DRBWWing | Jan 28, 2021 12:08pm | #10

   Dummy me, the PDF icon is a the bottom

1. 
   john_c2 | Jan 28, 2021 02:21pm | #11

   Oops.

5. 
   mikaol | Jan 27, 2021 05:44pm | #5

   I like oxalic acid to even out colors on wood. It's not terribly hard to work with. But I found out the hard way to not get any on the wood I didn't want lightened.
   My preferred finish is Tried & True's Danish oil. Then again, with few exceptions, I only work with oils. Not for nothing, tung oil doesn't darken cherry, but I'd avoid it if you don't want an oil finish. It's a bear to remove.
   On the other hand, a coat of shellac on fresh wood is a good base. About everything covers well over shellac.
   I wish you the best on your project. Hope I helped.
   Mikaol

1. 
   john_c2 | Jan 27, 2021 06:09pm | #6

   Hey. I was worried about you. Good to see you here.

6. 
   wianno | Jan 28, 2021 09:59am | #8

   I built the Chimney Cupboard out of old cherry I’d had for several years and some newly purchased cherry. I used shellack and wax on the inside and poly wiping varnish on the outside. I put the final two coats on using fine steel wool. Couldn’t have been more surprised and pleased... very smooth and even. My new go-to finish.