BrandonD Posted November 26, 2018 Report Share Posted November 26, 2018 I'm working with cherry for the first time on my largest project -- queen size Murphy bed with a couple bookcases. I cut out most of the (cherry veneered) plywood parts and had them stacked in the shop for a couple weeks. As you can see some of the parts darkened from UV where they weren't covered by another. How do I address this? If I put all the parts outside will it even out or will it all just get darker at the same rate? I am going to be applying several coats of Arm-R-Seal. Will the cherry continue to darken even after it's finished? I hope so... I like it darker, just not unevenly... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ..Kev Posted November 26, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted November 26, 2018 Cherry darkens.. Cherry darkens more in the sun! I've actually done projects where I've taken parts and placed them in direct sunlight before finish to speed up that darkening process. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted November 26, 2018 Report Share Posted November 26, 2018 Yea, if you put it out in the sun that line you have will even out in a day or two. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted November 26, 2018 Report Share Posted November 26, 2018 +1 to the above. You’ll be amazed and delighted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted November 26, 2018 Report Share Posted November 26, 2018 Even unshaded sun is best. I had a tree shadow mess up a panel I was sunning in the parking lot, spun it around and evened it out. When I have a stack of cherry parts I keep a packing blanket or a sheet of brown paper over them to keep out the light. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted November 26, 2018 Report Share Posted November 26, 2018 If you want the really dark look of old cherry, you can treat the raw wood with a weak solution of lye and water. It darkens almost instantly. Test on scraps first, to see if you like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estesbubba Posted November 26, 2018 Report Share Posted November 26, 2018 If you haven’t sanded yet then I wouldn’t worry about it as that will get everything even again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted November 26, 2018 Report Share Posted November 26, 2018 +1 to the above.... 2 days in the sun turns cherry from meh to awesome. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Barron Posted November 27, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted November 27, 2018 If you put the pieces outside, just make sure the neighborhood birds are not eating berries. Don’t aske me how I know. 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenMasco Posted November 29, 2018 Report Share Posted November 29, 2018 I've been using Potassium Dicromate to darken Cherry and Magogany for more than 20 years. It comes in a powered form you mix with water. Wear a good mask and gloves it's toxic while wet. It reliably and unaformly ages the wood. I'll often use 4-5 coats of Liberon Furniture oil for the top coat. The combination created a nice luster and pops any figure you may have Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny4 Posted November 30, 2018 Report Share Posted November 30, 2018 All these things are correct. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted November 30, 2018 Report Share Posted November 30, 2018 On 11/26/2018 at 4:42 AM, estesbubba said: Indoor LED grow lights are great for darkening Cherry and mahogany. Left under for 12 hours does a Great deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted November 30, 2018 Report Share Posted November 30, 2018 Lives in California, has grow lights..... I can see it now " I need some of those LED grow lights to darken my cherry furniture that I m building ". Right, Sure whatever you say buddy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denette Posted December 1, 2018 Report Share Posted December 1, 2018 All of the above info is good. I’ll add that another way to get a darker color faster, and add some depth and richness and durability along the way, apply boiled linseed oil. Let the wood soak up as much as it can, not unlike how you’d treat a cutting board. Wipe away the excess, then forget your project exists for two weeks to let the linseed oil cure. Topcoat it with an oil-based finish like wipe-on polyurethane. In my experience, the first top coat of poly will dry very slowly, but subsequent coats will behave normally. A year and a half ago I was discussing this issue with a former board member (Eric) who didn’t believe me, so I posted this demo on YouTube: The small pale board has wipe on poly without any BLO. The rest is BLO with poly on top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pondhockey Posted December 1, 2018 Report Share Posted December 1, 2018 Flexner ("Understanding Wood Finishing, p86) also suggests this method. I use BOL on all my wooden tool handles and on steak knives (without the top poly); it certainly darkens that wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted December 1, 2018 Report Share Posted December 1, 2018 On 11/30/2018 at 8:46 AM, wdwerker said: Lives in California, has grow lights..... I can see it now " I need some of those LED grow lights to darken my cherry furniture that I m building ". Right, Sure whatever you say buddy. It all legal now, no need to come up with weenie excuses like I need grow lights for "fine woodworking" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted December 1, 2018 Report Share Posted December 1, 2018 On 11/30/2018 at 8:46 AM, wdwerker said: Lives in California, has grow lights..... I can see it now " I need some of those LED grow lights to darken my cherry furniture that I m building ". Right, Sure whatever you say buddy. Well they are already on for 12 and 18 hours a day anyway. Why not utilize them. I can set up up Steve. My wood darkening rooms are super energy efficient. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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