I will build window seats for a custom home we are finishing, the front aprons of which are clearcoated cherry.
The plywood tops of these seats are only seen when and if the cushions are taken off. Cushions are upholstered, not attached to the tops, but will fit wall to wall and front to back.
There are a lot of them, and to do the tops in cherry plywood will cost well over a grand. I need to save money.
I can spend a little more than half the cost of the cherry for oak ply, and save even more by using birch. Can either of these be finished to be at least the color of the cherry hardwoods at the apron?
Replies
Don't use oak, it will stand out like a red vest at a funeral. Birch or maple are easy to stain and can fool anyone but a pro as a sub for cherry.
Good Luck
Agreed on the advisability of Birch or Maple rather than Oak. However, Alder is an even better substitute from a visual perspective. I don't know that anyone sells Alder veneered ply, though.
Something to consider: Cherry darkens with exposure to sunlight. A substitute can be made to aproximate Cherry over the short term, but will it still match a year or two from now?
Sure! Just stain it to the colour of aged cherry. Analine dye is the best. Spray it on if you have spray equip. or just get an airbrush for 15 bucks and it will do even a large job if you have time and patience.
Good Luck
John
Of course. But, the Cherry will continue to darken while the dye will, if anything, fade with exposure to light. It's not an overly big deal. Just something to consider.
Also, analine dyes aren't very lightfast and this is a window seat he's talking about. The newer acid dyes are significantly more lightfast and would be preferable in this situation.
Picky picky?? Analine dye has been the norm in the leather and textile industries since the first world war and in the commercial furniture for the same period. It may not be perfect but it will do this job. In addition, light reflected from vertical and horizontal areas differ greatly and the colour of a table leg and the top never look to be the same. This is a window seat project not a concert grand piano. As well, it will be covered by cushions.
You are probably right about alder. I have never seen it. I have no experience with acid dye and it too may be better.
Good Luck
John
You should try the newer acid dyes. I think you'd like them. They behave and look no different. But, they can be reduced with a much broader range of solvents... from water to acetone and several inbetween (ethers and alcohols). What I use at work is the Sherwin Williams line of universal dye concentrates. I also have some powdered analine dyes. They work and I use them occasionally. But, I really value the SW line a lot because I can do a great deal more with them. Mostly because of the so-called universal reduction capability.
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