Cherry Finish Question

[mikedude]

I was just reading some of the other posts under projects. It is reassuring to see all the other people having frustrations. I worked on my first picture frame over the weekend and had a heck of a time routing with cove, rabbet, and a large molding bit on such a small piece. Not to mention the close tolerance of all those edges and the miters. I had to do a couple hours of re-work near the end when the molding didn't line up, and the rabbet for the glass was too small once assembled. I'm a young Padawan but I assume the great woodworkers have the same trouble at times. How to save the project once you have a a router bit wack a large chunk out, or saw a board to short looks like a skill you learn as you progress. I got plenty of learning opportunities in on this one!

My question is I'm working with Brazilian Cherry. The cuts and glue up turned out great and I'm ready to apply the finish. Using end cuts I put clear poly on it and it has a nice color but kind of a brown natural cherry color. This looks good and I may end up going with it. But I saw on Wood Works Dave used some chemical on the wood to turn it more of a red cherry color. Does anyone know what that is? I want to try it on my sample pieces and see if I like that color better prior to applying the final finish. Thanks!

Mike Florida

[SARGE..g-47]

Morning Mike..

First, I am no finishing guru for certain. I have no idea what chemical he used unless he was using dye stain and from what you stated it sounds as if he was using a chemical of some nature to cause a reaction in the wood that delivered an appealing end effect?

I mainly wanted to add that the color of your cherry you presently have with clear finish will darken naturally with sunlight and age. Just a thought to throw at you before you make a final decision.

Good luck...

[kwgeorge]

Well since we are talking “Brazilian Cherry” here (also know as jatoba) I am not too sure about the “Darkening with age and Sunlight” as this wood reacts totally different that American Cherry. On jatoba I have had very good luck with oil finishes and this will darken the wood just a bit.

The last time I saw David using something as a wood darkening agent it was potassium dichromate which he uses on Mahogany and Cherry.

Ken

[mikedude]

That's it. It was on the tip of my brain but I couldn't come up with it. I'm making it for the LOML and she is happy with the natural color that comes out with Poly. I also tried Tung oil and it looks nice as well. Just thought I would try what David Marks was using and see what it looks like on the scrap pieces. Thanks for the info. I'm off to Woodcraft!

Mike St Augustine, Florida.

p.s. Went to Woodcraft at lunch. They don't carry this chemical. I probably will drop it for now. I could always use dye or stain on the wood but I don't want to do that. I want this project to be al-natural. :-)

I will post pics in a few days.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

I *believe* that Brazillian Cherry will darken with exposure over time like our traditional cherry. This is based upon hardwood flooring experience. Newly installed Brazillian Cherry is quite light, however flooring that has been installed for years tends to be very dark. Sanding the old flooring causes the Brazillian Cherry to get quite light in color, therefore I assume it gets darker with time. Or of course it could be the older stuff was stained.

[mikedude]

Thanks for the info! I think I will just go with Poly and if darkens over time that will be fine. The natural color looks nice now now so I'm sure it will look only better in time.

Mike St Augustine, Florida

[Jeffrey Schronce]

If I want to get "instant" cherry color without using stain I will seal the project with 1lb cut of dewaxed garnet shellac. Woodcraft should have garnet shellac, though you may have to dewax the shellac depending upon which finish you use.

[drumpriest]

Can you get Potasium Dichromate at woodcraft??

http://www.artchemicals.com/Potassiu...RIwaREhxhaZmzY

[mikedude]

Nope you can't. I went there yesterday and they looked at me funny when I asked about it. I think I comitted one of them there faux-pauxes up in there.

Mike St Augustine, Florida

[guycox]

Can you get Potasium Dichromate at woodcraft??

http://www.artchemicals.com/Potassiu...RIwaREhxhaZmzY

My Dad had a bunch of it when he shut down his studio. I was used in the bleach (I think) in the 16mm motion picture film machine. I was hoping he still had some ( it wouldn't take much ) but he had PAID for disposal.

I'm going to check old camera shops and studios in the area to see if I can come up with some.

I'll also see if I can still find an instance of the EPA's CAMEO database - it should have a cross reference of Hazmat chemicals and the SIC/UNSPEC codes of folks that would be using it in industrial processes.

[linear]

I just sourced a pound of the stuff from an ebay seller for under twenty bucks. I balked at the price when I found the supplier linked above earlier (referred from Marks' site as I recall).

I'll do some mahogany and cherry test pieces and share the outcomes with the group. I plan to use this on the mahongany headboard I'm building.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

I just sourced a pound of the stuff from an ebay seller for under twenty bucks. I balked at the price when I found the supplier linked above earlier (referred from Marks' site as I recall).

I'll do some mahogany and cherry test pieces and share the outcomes with the group. I plan to use this on the mahongany headboard I'm building.

After your post I happened to read a little more on the stuff. As you know it is pretty nasty stuff so be careful! Vents, masks, etc.

[linear]

Ok, here's my writeup.

http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=27343