a1606myrsclm Posted December 13, 2016 Report Share Posted December 13, 2016 I'm making a tambour clock as a Christmas present and was just going to shellac it. I put some mineral spirits on a piece, I think this is a good representation of what the shellac would look like and my wife doesn't think it is dark enough. I understand it will darken with age, but what are some other options I could use, should I stain it a little darker? I'm laminating 4 piece together, I also am hoping the lines will not be so noticeable. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted December 13, 2016 Report Share Posted December 13, 2016 You are correct sir. It will definately darken with age. Just take a scrap piece and put it in the sun (if you are fortunate enough to have some this time of year) for a couple of weeks or so and compare it to the underside. Staining cherry could very well get you banned from here! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted December 13, 2016 Report Share Posted December 13, 2016 my favourite finish for cherry is minwax wipe-on poly in a satin finish. looks awesome, and improves over time as the cherry ages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a1606myrsclm Posted December 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2016 I figured the banning comments would come thanks for not disappointing. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JosephThomas Posted December 13, 2016 Report Share Posted December 13, 2016 33 minutes ago, a1606myrsclm said: I'm making a tambour clock as a Christmas present and was just going to shellac it. I put some mineral spirits on a piece, I think this is a good representation of what the shellac would look like and my wife doesn't think it is dark enough. I understand it will darken with age, but what are some other options I could use, should I stain it a little darker? I'm laminating 4 piece together, I also am hoping the lines will not be so noticeable. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I don't think the aging will affect how visible the lines are...I'm assuming you're using PVA glue (the normal, light colored kind)...the lines will be more/less visible based on how well you can line up straight grain that hides the joints, shouldn't change much with age, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted December 13, 2016 Report Share Posted December 13, 2016 Garnet shellac will give cherry a head start toward the dark look. A few hours sitting in the sunlight will help even more, assuming you can find the sun this time of year. You could also take it to a tanning bed for some UV rays. If you have some scrap to experiment with, I know a lye paste is used to darken the mulberry wood used in a lot of Japanese furniture. Might do the same for cherry. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Staehling Posted December 13, 2016 Report Share Posted December 13, 2016 Noticeable darkening happens pretty fast if it gets a little sun. How much darker do you want it to be? I have had cherry that had very definite light areas where something was laid on top of it and it was exposed to relatively short duration of sun. It was unfinished at the time and I suspect that allows for quicker darkening. That was exposure of an hour here and there at times when the roll up door was open over a week or so. That was intense Florida sun though. If you do go the stain route it can and in my opinion should be pretty subtle. I think that if stain is used on woods like cherry or walnut it should be done in a way that it isn't obvious that it was stained at all. It should just look like it was a darker piece than it actually was. People can look down their nose at staining such woods, but if they can't tell it was stained there is no need to tell them On the other hand a little patience in waiting for it to darken is a virtue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estesbubba Posted December 13, 2016 Report Share Posted December 13, 2016 Garnet shellac looks great on cherry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pwk5017 Posted December 13, 2016 Report Share Posted December 13, 2016 Marc used a solution of baking soda and water to oxidize the cherry prior to finishing. It looked like it muddied it a bit. I prefer to let it darken with time--it actually does it pretty quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Wright Posted December 13, 2016 Report Share Posted December 13, 2016 Find a tanning salon - it would be funny to see a video of you taking your project in for a few tanning sessions 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronn W Posted December 13, 2016 Report Share Posted December 13, 2016 +1 Garnet shellac and patience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a1606myrsclm Posted December 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2016 I have scrap pieces and will put them out for awhile in the sun, see if the wife likes the color better, I'm the patient one she is not, Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post xxdabroxx Posted December 13, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted December 13, 2016 Just tell her it will get ugly and blotchy if you stain it. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted December 14, 2016 Report Share Posted December 14, 2016 Just tell her it will get ugly and blotchy if you stain it. And show her a test piece of red oak with dark cherry stain to prove it! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilgaron Posted December 14, 2016 Report Share Posted December 14, 2016 I'd just use garnet shellac like everyone else recommended, but I have heard of using lye to make cherry darken instantly. But for the time you'd spend experimenting on that technique you'd already be done with the garnet shellac and some sun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted December 14, 2016 Report Share Posted December 14, 2016 Halogen floodlights without the glass (UV filtering) or wire cage guards will also darken cherry. Turn ,flip etc to get an even exposure. Don't stick around or stare at the naked bulb. The wire guard will leave a shadow, learned that the hard way. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a1606myrsclm Posted December 15, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2016 I am just going to use shellac, it is what it is. What is your recipe? I don't use flakes, but l am going to try. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted December 15, 2016 Report Share Posted December 15, 2016 I have never mixed from flakes, only used the canned stuff. However, I like to thin it about 50%, and wipe it on with a cotton rag. Lightly sand between coats, and thin the last coat even more, apply it quick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlau Posted December 15, 2016 Report Share Posted December 15, 2016 flakes work well, they have instructions on the bag,, a common way is to take a jelly jar fill with flakes then fill with solvent which makes a approximate 2 lb cut. i have brushed it and wiped with rag but spraying is much better in my idea. it sands easily and will seal and smooth out the surface for the top coat.. the attached pic is cherry with 2 coats garnet shellac from flakes then lacquer top coat. it has gotten a more richer brown since it was delivered. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan G Posted December 15, 2016 Report Share Posted December 15, 2016 A few years back I built the WWFC Easel for my kids. Used cherry, finished with ARS. Was pleasantly surprised how fast it started to darken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a1606myrsclm Posted December 16, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2016 A few years back I built the WWFC Easel for my kids. Used cherry, finished with ARS. Was pleasantly surprised how fast it started to darken. ARS? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CandorLush Posted December 16, 2016 Report Share Posted December 16, 2016 18 minutes ago, a1606myrsclm said: ARS? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk https://generalfinishes.com/retail-products/oil-based-top-coats/arm-r-seal-urethane-topcoat 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a1606myrsclm Posted December 16, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2016 Thanks Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post a1606myrsclm Posted December 22, 2016 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted December 22, 2016 I finished the clock, used a 2 lb. cut of garnet shellac. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted December 22, 2016 Report Share Posted December 22, 2016 Looks great! love the color Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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