Replies

1. 
   peter28 | Dec 31, 2008 03:51am | #1

   Jim,

   I'm always a fan of shellac especially on a piece like you are talking about.

   There are many ways to manipulate the color too. You can add small amounts of a trans tint dye to deepen it or you can use one of the shellacs that has natural color like the garnet, button or orange types, just to name a few.

   In a class I just finished teaching, the students, all pretty fair woodworkers, brought in various pieces of furniture to finish. One that stood out was a mahogany pie crust tilt top table. He made the color of the wood a pretty deep brown and was on the verge of being disappointed. He was looking for an old warm glow. We put a few drops of red trans tint dye into blonde shellac and applied a few coats. The table glowed with that old look when he was done.

   This is just one example of infinite variety. You need to practice with it a bit to see it's brushing tendencies as well as the color it will lend to the wood.

   Keep me posted when you get ready to finish and we'll go over it.

   Peter

1. 
   JOFWW | Jan 27, 2009 05:12am | #2

   Peter - sorry to hear that the forum will be closing down.  I wrote in an earlier post that I was making a lamp stand out of cherry.  I had some older cherry that has been in my shop for years, but I had to buy some new 8/4 stock to make the legs.  Even after planing, the older wood has a deeper color than the new.  Should I attempt to color match the woods before glue-up, as the old and new wood will be separated only by the joint line?  I've read a lot in the archives about coloring cherry, but most of the articles focus on how to avoid blotching and to color sapwood.   Any advice?

   Thanks,

   Jim

1. 
   peter28 | Jan 27, 2009 06:48pm | #3

   Jim,

   One of the basic ways to get a little color into cherry is to put it in a sunny location for a week or two and it will deepen a little. It may be enough to go with your older cherry.

   After you've sunbathed the new wood, put it side by side with the older stuff and wet it down with alcohol. You'll see any color variance quickly.

   If the difference is significant, well, that's where color matching comes in. Without personally seeing it advice is hard to give. 

   A few ways to consider; a water dye to help unify the look,or, seal the whole table and then glaze the lighter areas, or, add some Transtint dye to shellac and use this to "tone in" the lighter areas. You may find oiling the wood helps unify it. These are just a few ways and can be used in conjunction if necessary.

   Another way cherry can be aged is to use lye. I have a can of Red Devil drain cleaner for that purpose. BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THIS AS IT CAN BURN YOU IF NOT CAREFUL. Follow all directions for mixing and safety. A basic formula is to mix one teaspoon to a cup of water. This is the "stock" solution. From there you can pour some stock into clean water to dilute it. Try a 10 % solution to start. Apply it to the wood and wipe off the excess. The color will change almost immediately but let it sit for a few hours or over night. Then wipe the surface down with clean water and let it dry well. Seal it with some shellac and "read" the surface. This is called chemical staining.

   To be sure it takes practice and samples to get the look you're after. If you go this route, be careful with bare skin and your eyes. Just as a disclaimer; you've been told.

    As a side note; many consider it a sin against mankind to color cherry. Personally, it's one of my favorite woods to manipulate.

   Good luck.

   Peter