Cherry Wood

[loki04]

Gentlemen,

I had the good fortune to harvest a wild cherry tree a while back, and am working on a few projects with it. I would like to showcase the wood color, grain, and pattern with a pretty stain before varnishing. What stain recommendations do I hear for staining cherry a nice dark red.

For some reason, I just do nae trust the expertise of my local Lowes for staining anything other than pine.

Regards,
Loki

 

[hoochiepapa]

I wouldn't stain it. Cherry will darken with age all by itself. I think the more sun that hits it, the darker it will get. My dad made a coffee table and end tables for my mom out of cherry, and they look like natural walnut now.

 

[fatboy]

What are trying to make ? Cherry can and is nice with out stain, if you do dont go with a real dark stain. Top coat of Tung oil or Linseed oil

 

[ohio ramrod]

As a builder of custom furniture I use tung oil on cherry to bring out the natural grain. :idunno: :idunno:

 

[loki04]

Gentlemen,

I am making a cane and a hammered dulcimer. The cane I am not too worried about, bu the dulcimer is a wedding present, so I want it to look good.

Regards,
Loki

 

[hoochiepapa]

I still wouldn't stain it.

 

[loki04]

Sir,

I am not wedded to the idea of staining the wood. Would just applying several coats of varnish have a similar effect to varnishing unstained red cedar?

Regards,
Loki

 

[hoochiepapa]

I'm no wood expert by any stretch. But I DO have a floor lamp that I made out of western red cedar, and the poly I put on it darkened it just a little. I would think that a clear finish on your cherry would do just the same.

 

[lonehunter]

As a builder of custom furniture I use tung oil on cherry to bring out the natural grain. :idunno: :idunno:

:thumbsup:

 

[Bob Gular]

In answer to your question, I use Feibings medium brown leather dye on my cherry knife handles (heartwood only). It brings out the grain and deepens the color. I apply with a cotton swap and wipe with a period correct paper towel. After drying, rub on a finish of your choice. My preference is boiled linseed thinned with turpentine. Now back to our movie.

 

[Dane]

Any product containing Lye will make cherry a deep dark red, and really bring out any figure in the wood. Much like what you will wait several years for from the sunlight. Make sure you wash and dry it well, then seal it with a varnish/sealer of your choice.