Hello everyone,
New to list but knew this would be the place to be to pick great minds.
I am finishing Cherry doors for a kitchen and want to give them a uniform look but want the cherry to still age naturally. Normally spray with a lacquer but am wondering about alcohol stain? What is it? Is it appropriate? What are it’s limitations… all that stuff. Any other products, techniques or suggestions?
Thank you,
Eliza Williams
Sorry if this is a duplicate posting as I think I sent my first post to one person only.
Replies
Eliza,
Fine woodworking's forum "Knots" might be a better spot for this question, but here's my two cents. If you're looking for a stain just to even out the cherry tones or hide sapwood, you could use even a basic oil base stain, sprayed on if possible for the most even coverage. I haven't done much with alcohol stains so I'm not sure about them. I do use quite a bit of pre-catalyzed laquer, but a more durable finish for kitchens is the conversion varnish such as duravar. These will both still let the cherry darken with age and can be rubbed out to a low sheen if wanted. I personally prefer cherry natural with no staining. Over time it evens out a lot in color as it darkens anyway, and to me, I like to see some color variations.
Another site for discussions on finishing is at woodweb.com
Bish
Eliza--
I haven't worked with "alcohol stains" but if you want to give cherry a natural, aged finish, let nature do your work for you. Sand your doors to 180-220 grit, and take them out in the sun. You can make a piece look 20 years older with a day of bright sunshine. When it is about as dark as you want it, spray your favorite finish on--I generally use nitrocellulose lacquers, as they add an additional amber hue that I like.
Try it--I think you'll be surprised at how easy, and effective, this is.
Have fun--
Syd
I agree, but I would add another step.
Apply a coat of BLO before giving them the sun tan. It really helps pop the grain and brings out the color.
Apply a coat of BLO before giving them the sun tan
What's BLO?........I might add I also do the sun thing, but don't attach the table top and turn it over for an even tan (to make sure it doesn't bow as the sun cooks the top)..........also use shellac (sprayed) with an amber tone to it.There are fast carpenters who care..... there are slow carpenters who care more.....there are half fast carpenters who could care less......
Boiled Linseed Oil
I did my mantle with BLO, a day sunning and some shellac. It looked great from the start and has gotten better.
Glad you explained that BLO thing - I was thinking of BLOW, like the slang name for cocain. Wasn't sure what that would do for the finish.....(-:
I'd also vote for no stain. I built a cradle for my kids out of cherry, and stained it. It's so dark after 12 years that you can't see the grain anymore.
The world's full of apathy, but I don't care
Eliza -
Order a back issue of Fine Woodworking.
In particular, Issue # 130 (June 1998).
"Finish Cherry...without blotches." by Jeff Jewitt.
Page 46 - 49.
Excellent photo illustration and author goes over two options.
Quick and easy method and the instant aging method.
Sealer coat of oil is used and dark toned shellac "will give a rich finish that will only improve over time.".
He also goes over whys and how to prevent splotches.
Blotching in cherry finish is a common problem according to the author.
stay away fro water based finishes on raw cherry it turns the cherry a bland brown.