Easy Finish Ages a Classic Cherry Piece
Simple steps to mute color of new cherry wood and create a durable finish
Synopsis: Dan Faia’s first goal when finishing his porringer-top tea table was to tone down the brightness of the new cherry wood. Cherry’s tendency to blotch can make dyeing tricky, but this staining method helps to minimize the problem. He started with a shellac washcoat, then applied water-based aniline dye. Unthinned varnish completed the finish. With step-by-step directions for correct dye application and finishing, this technique makes aging a classic cherry piece easy.
Like many furniture projects, this porringer-top tea table in cherry (see pp. 60-67) won’t be the first piece of furniture in its new home. There is a spot all picked out for it in the living room, between pieces of age-darkened cherry and stained pine. So my first goal was to tone down the table’s bright natural cherry a little to help the new piece blend in.
Cherry’s tendency to blotch can make…
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