Sir,
I have been working on a cradle for my firstborn. Made of cherry, this is essentially my second go at real furniture making. I was following Jeff Jewitt’s FWW article on padding shellac and finishing cherry without blotches.
I had sanded to 320 grit, and was ready to apply some gel varnish, when I accidentally spilt some water-based TransTint dye from my first project onto the footboard. So, to “save” the cradle, I went with the dye instead of the gel varnish. (I thought I would hide the glaring spot that accidentally got onto the footboard.)
Now I am pretty certain I have splotching. I hadnt even gotten to Jewitt’s step of Linseed oil as the base coat!
Is there ANY way I can save this, or is this just a “too bad kid, better luck next time” kinda deal?
ARG!
Thanks for any help. I can supply pics if that would help you determine any action I should take.
Brian Williams
Replies
Brian,
Cherry is a beautiful wood that has good natural character. The splotching you speak of could be considered another mans curl.
Water based dye can be rinsed with warm water and be quite reversible to a degree.
Follow that with a sanding of 180 grit and you'd be surprised how much it goes back.
There is really never a need to sand any wood to 320 prior to finishing. In reality you're wasting time.
What color dye is on your wood? You may find this is the definition of a happy mistake. You can always go over this with the BLO and have a wonderful look, and IMO far more attractive than a gel stain.
You'll find when you speak of finishing cherry in these forums that many are fervent in the opinion that no color EVER, EVER TOUCHES CHERRY.
It's just a matter of personal taste, just like food, art etc. Don't be swayed if you get barked at by some. Cherry is one of my favorite woods to "play" with.
Let me know about the dye color you spilled.
Peter
So happy that you responded! Thank you for your time! (this is worth the money for the online subscription in and of itself!)OK;The dye was TransTint Dark Walnut, #6005. I just had a mix leftover from a walnut table I made for my wife last summer. I mixed a few drops in with water, in a used mayonais jar (it had been cleaned, etc) So, I was thinking about using it, or the gel varnish, when I got a drop from the lid onto my footboard. I had a few streaks of sapwood I was trying to blend. The articles I have read in FWW say, if you have sapwood or want to make kiln dried look nont so blah, to dye.I didnt know that staining Cherry was so Verboten. I was just trying to get it a bit darker, to match my upstairs furniture which is also dark. I know it will darken with age. I was just trying to tint it to the darker side. But now... you could almost make the mistake that I have made the boards from walnut itself... oy.I was really trying to do my homework and follow Mr Jewitt's article. But I didnt consider that dyeing it would hurt me this bad.Also, you used the term BLO and IMO. I am not following. Im sure Ill get it once you tell me, but I have to ask.So, can I just take a garden hose to this and maybe it will come out?Thanks again for your help.
First things first, relax.
Dyeing or staining cherry is verboten to some not all. I was just trying to prepare you in case someone jumped all over you. It has happened in the past and, as stated, it's just a matter of preference.
Again, you haven't hurt yourself. Just don't use a garden hose on it. If you want to wash some of the color away, use a sponge and a little warm water and dry behind it as you go with paper towels. The water will raise the grain (make it fuzzy) just sand that with 180 grit and you should be good to go.
Before you do that, take a scrap of the cherry, prepare it, dye it and then hit it with the Boiled Linseed Oil (BLO) as per the directions in Jeff's recipe. You'll notice the dye comes alive and you might be very pleased with it.
See if you like the results the way it is. Add your finish to this piece and you'll see what the finished project will look like.
This is called sample making and is one of the most important steps in finishing, especially when you are learning. Not doing this is the only real mistake you've made so far.
I ALWAYS make samples for a new project, ALWAYS. Take the time to do this, you'll be very happy you did.
Relax!! It will make a great story for your child someday.
Peter
OK.I will try to make myself a test piece and see how it looks.Sorry if I have spazzed. Just... ugh, I can't believe I did all this work to avoid splotching this wonderful cherry, and now I did it anyway.Thank you very much for helping me, Mr. Gedrys. I will try the test piece tonite and report back.Thanks again.Brian Williams
Brian,
Scroll down the page to Gary Rowgowskis' list. Look at the answer he gave on sanding cherry dated July 7
The 2nd paragraph when he talks about the "blotching" of cherry.
It's great. Take it to heart.
Peter
Peter,
I got a scrap board last night and sanded it, then dyed it with the same 'washcoat' of tint that I had... I dont think it looks too bad. I have a longer board that I could use to really tell. This scrap piece isnt that big, so Im not sure its a fair example. So I may try again with a test piece.
But as to your/Gary's advice.... I think that seals it. Its a good point. I made the cradle and brought it this far. A finishing mistake just personalizes it that much more.
I will get back to you with more results. Thanks again for your time.
Brian
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