I am working on a project made of Cherry and Cherry Plywood. I usually like to finish things with a clear finish, but I know Cherry is bad to splotch. Also with the mix of Cherry Plywood and solid Cherry I figure that will be some difference in the way it takes a stain. I need this to be an even color and really show off the grain of the Cherry.

This is a drawing of what I am working on. I am making a few changes to it as I go but it will be pretty much as you see it here.

This is a pulpit I am building and the Columns are 4 1/2" wide by 3 1/2" deep. They will be about 32" long.

They will be sitting on a base that is wrapped with Cherry. The plywood you see here is just so I could check some dimension before I cut the expensive Cherry plywood.

Each of the columns will be wrapped at the base with a solid cherry trim also. Again this is all just plywood that I was testing my cuts and fits with and nothing is attached to anything in these pictures just sitting there so I can check things before I cut the really expensive stuff.

So what are your thoughts or tips on finishing the Cherry? I think I would like to use a dye, but I have never used it and of course will test before I put anything on this cherry. Can't afford to start over on this one.

Also what kind of top coat would you put on it? I have used General Finishes Enduro Var which is water based and I have had great success with it. I was thinking about it but just wanted to get some input from all of you here.

I got to get something fast and get it tested, so please share your experience with me. 

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

Water based Dye would be the way to go.

On top of the water based dye you should do a seal coat of alcohol based blonde shellac as it will bring out the grain and give it a richer hue. Then do your top coat of the water based Endurovar. If you do a water based finish directly over a water based dye it can and will cause it to dilute and get blotchy. Do some sample pieces first to get a feel for it. 

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Allen Worsham
Corona, CA

allenworsham@earthlink.net

'Graze in every man's field, but always give your own milk' J. Vernon McGee

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D.L. Moody

 Have  you thought about giving the Cherry a "Sun Tan"?    Sit the pieces out in direct sunlight until it is the colour you are after.  Then just  a top coat. The tray's field is Black Cherry, and has two coats of clear Poly gloss.    YMMV

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Planer? I'm the 'planer', and these are what I use...

I would love to do that if I had the time and it wouldn't rain every day here Steve.

That would give it a nice color for sure.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

Thanks Allen, glad you mentioned the Shellac after the dye.

Have you used any colors on Cherry before?

I don't want it too light or too red, but not sure I got time to experiment with mixtures at this point.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

Hi John, nice looking project.

I have two possible solutions for you neither of which I've done my self so take it for what it may be worth.

1. I regularly visit about 6 different forums. The is a blotch control product made by Charles Neil that has gotten quite a few thumbs up on different forums. Apparently this product work pretty well. See video.

2.Here a link to spraying WB dye stain. I'm not sure if you can access this forum with out joining so if that is the case let me know and I see if I can somehow copy and past it over here.

http://www.woodworkslive.com/index.php/topic,13729.0.html

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Thanks Richard. The site did want you to join. I didn't right now as I just didn't have the time, but will look at it later tonight.

Thanks

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

 just a thought..... do  you have any windows to sit the wood in for a day or two?    Most of the sunshine that hit that old tray, came in thrugh a kitchen window....

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Planer? I'm the 'planer', and these are what I use...

paint the plywood with minwax cherry stain and poly in one, will hide plywood edges ( why plywood?) and waterlox on the rest.

SCRATCH THAT

Take off that silly plywood and put cherry on it then finish it all in Waterlox

hey john, i myself have had good luck using just blo followed by a clear coat.  The blo pops the grain and gets it started getting the redder color that cherry will eventually develop.  Then i use a catalyzed lacquer over it, but i think that a different clear coat would work as well.

I have not dyed cherry before. The frames that I made for church were all out of beech which had real blotchy problems using typical stain. The dye worked great but once it dries it looks kind of muddy and dull. But once you put the shellac on it it brings out the color and grain and then the top coat enhances it more.

John Moody said:

Thanks Allen, glad you mentioned the Shellac after the dye.

Have you used any colors on Cherry before?

I don't want it too light or too red, but not sure I got time to experiment with mixtures at this point.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

First the topcoat i would use a clear varnish or varithane (sp). As for how to stain it, I would use a cherry stain for sure, otherwise in my opinion, it may look odd. I also know that plywood seems to stain differently than straight wood, whether it be because of knots or glue or whatever, so I guess what I am getting to is that I really don't know how it will look when it's done but i hope it turns out beautiful. I would test coat some of the scrap plywood and some of the material you used for the legs and see what it turns out looking like. Hopefully it matches close enough to not look odd.

Question, Does any of the wood you used look a different color than the rest? If not then it should be fine as long as you have clean surfaces to stain.

Good luck with it and keep us informed.

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Charles Nicholls
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Hey Mike, I know I hate to use the plywood too, but I am not too sure about the wood movement in the top and the way I am going to need to attach it. Also that piece on the bottom will be fairly locked down and I was afraid I couldn't allow enough play in it for movement. So The plywood will only be in some of the larger panels but will be wrapped with solid wood.

The plywood you see in the picture above is not the plywood what will be used on the piece. Also the plywood in the picture around the legs was just some test cuts I was making to check my fits.

Yesterday I ordered a gallon of the General Finishes Enduro Var from Woodcraft.I lost my local dealer for General Finishes here. I got an email from Woodcraft saying it would be 10 day delivery due to the Endruo Var. I called the closest store to me which is in Franklin, TN and was going to go pick it up Sunday afternoon. But I talked to Woodcraft Customer Service today and my shipment is already on a truck with a Saturday delivery. So I should have the top coat and some dye to try out. If the dye doesn't look like I want, them I may be trying some of the other suggestions. After the dye, I will put on one or more coats of Shellac.

Thanks for all the great input. I will give you a report and show you have the test pieces look as soon as I get the stuff in on Saturday.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com