Replies

1. 
   RSRose | Oct 06, 2002 09:42pm | #1

   Mathew,

   I don't have an answer to your question. I just have another question: Why?

   Why don't you want to use cherry for the frame, yet you want the frame to match the panel in color and grain?

   It's not necessary to post your question in two different sections on the forum.

   Rich

1. 
   matthewlanebryan | Oct 06, 2002 11:04pm | #2

   I am new to the art of working with wood and do not want to screw up after I have spent a lot of money on nice solid Cherry wood.  I  have done some veneering and have had good results.  (cost again)  Eventually I will venture into solid Cherry......but for now I will stick with less expensive wood to start out with.

1. 
   catford | Oct 07, 2002 12:13am | #4

   I understand wanting to safe money but I think that the grief and frustration that you wil l run into, and probly eventual unhappiness with the final look will not be worth the money that you will save

2. 
   RSRose | Oct 07, 2002 02:33am | #5

   Matthew,

   I don't want to sound judgemental, but that's the most timid approach I have ever heard!

   What in the world are you talking about? Cherry is so expensive that you can't tolerate the thought of the project not coming out perfect? But you are going to make furniture for your home and try to make another wood match cherry "in color and grain?" What is the cost in materials if THAT method doesn't work?

   Lighten up man! The difference in cost of cherry vs some other hardwood for the project is insignificant. Use cherry for the job.

   And stop worrying about making mistakes. You WILL make mistakes. It's part of learning. And no project you ever make will be quite as good as the better one you know you can, as the result of the one you just finished.

   Rich

1. 
   LeeEschen | Oct 07, 2002 10:51am | #6

   Hear! Hear! Well said, Rich. I agree wholeheartedly.

1. 
   SgianDubh | Oct 07, 2002 02:09pm | #7

   Oh, I dunno if it's such an illegitimate question really guys. Matthew admits to being something of a novice, so he probably wouldn't have the experience to know that it's easier to colour match timbers of the same species, would he? Obviously he didn't, otherwise he wouldn't have asked. I'm surprised no-one (amongst the more experienced of you) thought to mention that veneered panels, even of the same species, often don't match the solid timber parts, and some sophisticated tweaking is sometimes necessary at polishing time.

   Whilst I would agree with other comments, Matthew, that veneered and solid of one species is easier to match than any kind of mixing of species, I understand your nervousness as a comparitive novice. There might be another approach. Rather than use cherry all through, consider using red alder for all parts and simply accept the fact that none of it's cherry. Red alder is easier to work, it's softer, usually significantly cheaper, and some might object that it's not tough enough for cabinetry, which is not true. You might have difficulty finding alder veneered panels, but it might be worth looking into. You might be able to save a little cash, and you'll fell less badly about any screw-ups too, ha, ha. Slainte. Website

2. 
   jonsherryl | Oct 07, 2002 04:18pm | #8

   Sgian, I think you make several solid suggestions here. It sounds like Matthew feels his skill level is still a little too weak to be using the high priced stuff. Considering the cost of the materials and the value of his labor, even if he did use cherry for the entire project, the slightly higher overall materials cost isn't that significant...But I think what he really needs to hear at this point in his wood working career is that these thoughts of uncertainty (his sense of caution) are perfectly normal and rational. I've been designing and building furniture for more than 40 years and I still build a prototype whenever I'm trying out a new design.

   With that said, a good prototype combination for a final project that will be made in cherry would be alder solid stock and birch panels. Alder belongs to the birch family and is anatomically so similar to the hard birch used in birch plywood that careful staining yields a good match...And the staining part of the project provides some good experience in the art of doctoring up the color of mismatched woods. He could also use birch solid stock with the birch ply and the results would be good, but birch solid stock isn't that much less expensive than cherry.

   Personally, I use mostly aspen for prototypes like this, because it is cheap here in Michigan and I'm also able to get cheap aspen plywood. While aspen is considered a diffuse-porous wood, like birch and cherry, it produces slightly larger earlywood pores (in other words, it's ever so slightly ring-porous) and these earlywood pores absorb a bit more stain, which somewhat mimmics the dark bands of fiber cells in cherry that give cherry it's more pronounced figure. In fact, aspen's close cousin; balsam poplar is an exceptionally good counterfeit for cherry, but it's not as available in American markets as is aspen. Canada produces a lot of it and I'm sometimes able to get it when I cruise small mills here in Michigan's U.P.

   Anyway, Matthew...There's nothing wrong with using the cheaper species and building prototypes. In fact, it's a great way to learn and a well made prototype seldom goes to waste. 

2. 
   catford | Oct 07, 2002 12:05am | #3

   II"m not sure why you want to mess with trying to match color of different woods. Why don't you use cherry for your frames-the same as your panals