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Dark, Rich Cherry Finish with Household Products

Drain cleaner, roofing tar, and shellac team up for a foolproof finish.

By Timothy Puro #273-Jan/Feb 2019 Issue

Synopsis: Tim Puro will stack his favorite cherry finish up against all kinds of fancy finish recipes. It is accomplished in three steps, with three common products: 100% lye drain cleaner mixed with distilled water, non-fibered roofing tar mixed with mineral spirits, and SealCoat dewaxed shellac right out of the can.

Students often ask me to name my favorite cherry finish. I tell them that there’s nothing wrong with using a clear, oil-based finish on this popular hardwood, but I know another finish that imparts deep, rich color and more depth. Better yet, it consists of common products, all available from the local hardware store or home center: lye (in the form of drain cleaner), asphaltum (from roofing tar), and SealCoat shellac.

These inexpensive products darken cherry and highlight the grain in a way that no dye, stain, or oil can on its own, creating depth and color that attracts…

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Comments

DuaneD | Jan 13, 2019 06:44am | #1
I thought I would try this finish on a chest of drawers I made. So far I am pleased with how it is turning out. However, a couple of notes. First, any bit of glue is going to prevent the lye from darkening the underlying wood - I found you can sand the area and apply more lye and it does not seem to be a problem. Or you can use artist paints to cover up the area. Another problem is if you have any tear-out and used 5-min epoxy to fill the gap - that again prevents the lye from staining the cherry. Other than that, it's just a lot of layers of shellac and sanding!
mkieran | Jan 28, 2019 01:30pm | #2
I tried this technique on a demilune table, and the results looked great. Just one question for Mr. Puro: Do you finish all the pieces before assembly, or do you complete some or most of the finishing before assembly? Thanks.