Would appreciate input from those with experience using Cherry.
I’m preparing a big project for finishing and the Cherry is real nice, with figure, red lines and lots of character. It is also quite red in color. Although I used Cherry before, this is the first time I did a piece for myself and while I wish to let the wood darken with age naturally, I don’t want to lose the red color and figure.
My question is whether aged Cherry loses its figure and character as it darkens, or not?
If I’m going to lose that figure, I would rather put some UV blockers in the finish…….
Any advice?
Replies
Jellyrug
80% of the work I do is in Cherry. In my opinion, the patina only makes the wood look better. It does not hide any figure. I built my wife's dining room table out of curly cherry, and 4 years later, it looks better than ever. I finished it with natural tung oil, with 4 coats of Crystalac to protect it. It has that nice beautiful color to it.
Jeff
Edited 6/5/2005 5:23 pm ET by JHeath
Hey Jelly,
I have some work that is a combination of cherry, and genuine mahogany. For the first year, the mahogany was getting darker while the cherry was a little slower to change, then it went to a gallery where it got too much light exposure. The mahogany has gone back the other way, and is much lighter, but the cherry is still getting darker. It was a dark cherry to start with, and had the little red resin canals that it sounds like you are describing. So I would not worry too much about it if i were you.
On the subject of UV blockers. I did a search on the net for the UV blocking film for glass, or the windows that let the light in. What I found was not very reassuring, The best UV films for the windows are only good for 50%, or will only double the time it take to get to the same place without it. I have to wonder how effective the UV inhibitors are in clear finishes.
Have any of you ever read any serious research on this subject?
Rootburl, JHeath,
Thanks for the replies, the table looks nice.
Root, you were correct about plenty red resin canals. I have not looked into UV Blockers.
I'll be finishing in white water nitro lack, starting with a sanding sealer and then about 4 coats of the good stuff.
Thanks again
Jelly,
I have never seen a good piece of cherry that didn't look better with age. Don't worry at all about losing the figure. Old cherry is the epitome of natural patina.
DR
That is why the wood is called Cherry.. Starts out good and just gets better!
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