I know it is a sin to talk about any colored finish on cherry in this group
but I have to make a headboard to match some cherry furniture we bought. My
Bob Flexner book, "Understanding Wood Finishing" talks about either using a
gel stain to avoid the blotchy nature of cherry or to use a dye on maple as
the grain is so similar. I can of course start doing experiments but I
thought first I would see if anyone in this group has had a similar task to
do and if so, how you did it.
TIA
Dick Snyder
Of course depending on the color you are matching it makes a huge
difference on the approach. Lots of testing will be the only real
answer.
1. If it tend towards dark, plum, wine, purpley type color then I
would say find a gel stain. They are very similar to using a toned
film finish because they are just ploy with pigment. Of course they
are a pigment stain and will not leave as clear a look. I just did a
test of black gel stain wash over some Sapele with a light coat of
shellac first. I was just trying to blacken the grain. I did 1/2 of
the board and the Sapele shimmers on the un-gelled side and has some
nice black grain but looks muddy even with a minimal film of gel
stain. Cheery isn't so shimmery so it won't suffer so much.
2. If you have a good lacquer spraying capability you could try the
tinted film finish approach as suggested by swingman. You need to be
very careful but if you start with a little lighter tone, you can add
layers to build up to the darkness you want. I wouldn't go this route
if you can't spray.
3. If you think it is just matching well aged cherry, you can try
doing a lye treatment. Use Red Devil drain cleaner, good gloves and
respirator. Longer and stronger mixes make darker faster. Then
neutralize with a water and vinegar wash.
4. Using dye on Maple sounds like the most difficult but have never
tried such. One tip on using dye from my experience is to go with
water based and wet the wood first to help slow down the absorbtion.
It makes it much more controllable how much color you lay down. Then
you can do a few washes of lighter dye to build to the darkness you
want.
This can be lots of fun experimenting. Swingmans formula sounds
interesting. I have always just started with one of the red or brown
trans tint colors and darkened with black or brown. Building up from
primary colors sounds like fun.
On Oct 7, 4:53=A0pm, "Dick Snyder" <[email protected]> wrote:
> I know it is a sin to talk about any colored finish on cherry in this gro=
up
> but I have to make a headboard to match some cherry furniture we bought. =
My
> Bob Flexner book, "Understanding Wood Finishing" =A0talks about either us=
ing a
> gel stain to avoid the blotchy nature of cherry or to use a dye on maple =
as
> the grain is so similar. I can of course start doing experiments but I
> thought first I would see if anyone in this group has had a similar task =
to
> do and if so, how you did it.
>
> TIA
>
> Dick Snyder
"Dick Snyder" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I know it is a sin to talk about any colored finish on cherry in this group
>but I have to make a headboard to match some cherry furniture we bought. My
>Bob Flexner book, "Understanding Wood Finishing" talks about either using
>a gel stain to avoid the blotchy nature of cherry or to use a dye on maple
>as the grain is so similar. I can of course start doing experiments but I
>thought first I would see if anyone in this group has had a similar task to
>do and if so, how you did it.
>
> TIA
>
> Dick Snyder
You can do advanced aging of wood, especially the ones containing tannins
(oak, cherry, walnut, mahogany) using potassium di-chromate. It is a mucous
irritant so use goggles and respirators (not pollen/ dust masks!). It's
remarkably fast - instant - and not the least bid artificial considering
that it goes on a clear, bright orange liquid. You mix powder into water.
See better info on the BT3 Central forum in this article.
http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=27343
Cool, I had seen this and other chemical techniques before and have
been meaning to play with them. Thanks for the link, great info.
On Oct 9, 1:11=A0pm, "C & E" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "Dick Snyder" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> news:[email protected]...
>
> >I know it is a sin to talk about any colored finish on cherry in this gr=
oup
> >but I have to make a headboard to match some cherry furniture we bought.=
My
> >Bob Flexner book, "Understanding Wood Finishing" =A0talks about either u=
sing
> >a gel stain to avoid the blotchy nature of cherry or to use a dye on map=
le
> >as the grain is so similar. I can of course start doing experiments but =
I
> >thought first I would see if anyone in this group has had a similar task=
to
> >do and if so, how you did it.
>
> > TIA
>
> > Dick Snyder
>
> You can do advanced aging of wood, especially the ones containing tannins
> (oak, cherry, walnut, mahogany) using potassium di-chromate. =A0It is a m=
ucous
> irritant so use goggles and respirators (not pollen/ dust masks!). =A0It'=
s
> remarkably fast - instant - and not the least bid artificial considering
> that it goes on a clear, bright orange liquid. =A0You mix powder into wat=
er.
> See better info on the BT3 Central forum in this article.http://www.bt3ce=
ntral.com/showthread.php?t=3D27343
On Wed, 7 Oct 2009 19:53:35 -0400, "Dick Snyder"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>I know it is a sin to talk about any colored finish on cherry in this group
>but I have to make a headboard to match some cherry furniture we bought. My
>Bob Flexner book, "Understanding Wood Finishing" talks about either using a
>gel stain to avoid the blotchy nature of cherry or to use a dye on maple as
>the grain is so similar. I can of course start doing experiments but I
>thought first I would see if anyone in this group has had a similar task to
>do and if so, how you did it.
>
>TIA
>
>Dick Snyder
>
Have you tried "fuming" cherry with Ammonia? Makes the aged dark
colour without the aging.
Personally, I'd try to spur it on to a natural finish and not paint it
or stain it.
Consider the real wood finish - it will continue to age for years.
This year match will match for a while. Next year it will stand out.
I have a 25 year old Grand Father clock in Cherry. It changes more and
more glow and deeper color.
Martin
Dick Snyder wrote:
> I know it is a sin to talk about any colored finish on cherry in this group
> but I have to make a headboard to match some cherry furniture we bought. My
> Bob Flexner book, "Understanding Wood Finishing" talks about either using a
> gel stain to avoid the blotchy nature of cherry or to use a dye on maple as
> the grain is so similar. I can of course start doing experiments but I
> thought first I would see if anyone in this group has had a similar task to
> do and if so, how you did it.
>
> TIA
>
> Dick Snyder
>
>