I’ve worked with cherry before as a finish carp inside where sun wasn’t an option, but now I’m building an entertainment center and have access to tons of outdoor light to naturally darken the wood prior to finishing. Good idea or bad?
Naturally darkened for a handfull of days outside the color is almost spot on to the kitchen table I’m matching so it will reduce or eliminate the need for stain or dye so this is what I’m aiming for unless there is a problem I’m not seeing.
I have a number of work tables outside with all sorts of cherry parts laid out and I’m wondering if the sun lines in the partially covered wood will even out or if need to carefully cover the dark areas to even out the color.
Thanks!
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn’t rule the world.
Replies
Sun lines do tend to even out. I made a cherry table, displayed it at an outdoor show, and didn't even think about the things I left on top it it.... until the next day that is....
After some more sunning, the tan lines will blend, and disappear. And to really promote that cherry patina, be sure to finish with an oil as well.
Hope this helps
Gregory Paolini
http://www.GregoryPaolini.com
Custom Furniture, Cabinetry, and Woodworking Instruction
Sunburn darkening certainly speeds up the process of the color change , but as you know Cherry continues to mellow as U.V. continues .
I question the benefit of the process ,if you are going to actually do some case work with the Cherry I would think you may sand or surface or do some milling and display some raw color .
My thought is you may get a blotchy , or un even tones .
I used to buy Cherry and it came in as " steamed " and was all Red no sap wood ,,, until you sanded it .
Yes , it takes a few years or so to mellow and darken ,be patient it will .
If the Cherry piece you are matching was stained then yes stain the new to match .
It seems when pieces are new they show more spots from objects , but as the piece mellows they often no longer leave the spots .
From Oxidation and U.V. rays Cherry is a forever changing medium .
regards from Oregon dusty , maker of Cherry boxes
That will work if you have the final sand done. Remember if not when you p ut the final sand on you may take that off! I completed a project that took a long time a cherry hutch. The parts I had milled early sitting around the shop started darkening giving a noticable difference in tone. I played in the beginning with seeing what would happen if I fumed the cherry. I did an experiment by building a small tent and taking two pieces of cherry and fuming one and not the other. The difference was noticable. The part came out with a green tinge at first but that faded in 48 hours. When finished you could not tell it had been fumed but it was darker. I decided not to go with it and just let mother nature take care of it.
I was married by a judge - I should have asked for a jury.
George Burns
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