Replies

1. 
   jonsherryl | Jul 01, 2004 05:24am | #1

   Knothole, cherry contains substantial quantities of tannin (in fact, in some cherry species it climbs into the range of 4% and this is comparable to that found in many of the oaks). Exposure to ammonia darkens cherry and seems to drive it more toward a dead brown color...Which raises the issue: Why would you want to do that? The natural pigmentation in cherry (that which is triggered by exposure to light) gives cherry one of the most attractive natural patinas to be found among any of the world's most prestigious cabinetwoods...And you want to mess with that? :O)  

1. 
   jvs | Jul 01, 2004 12:31pm | #2

   I have done this with some small boxes and a wall cabinet, and, yup, the result is pretty much "brown."  Done lightly (long exposure with a small quantity of 10% ammonia), it isn't bad, but I never got the reds that naturally aged cherry has.  It basically just turns cherry into fine grained medium dark walnut, slightly less even, slightly less stable (although the raised panel in the cabinet only moves by a hair), and slightly harder to work with to begin with.  Not worth it unless those things are exactly what you are looking for.  Lye is slightly better, but nothing beats time.

   Amazing--I actually have something to add to a Jon Arno post, even if it is just relating the results of a fit of stupidity....

   /jvs

1. 
   jonsherryl | Jul 01, 2004 07:07pm | #3

   JV, to challenge conventional thought is never an act of stupidity. It is the genesis of all human progress...You just happened to verify that in this case the wisdom of the ages is indeed correct.