The durability of cherry flooring and the warm colors that it can evidence with staining and aging make it a popular choice for wood furniture. Many people want to save money on cherry furniture, and this can often be done if you purchase the piece unvarnished and then apply stain to it. Should you find yourself wanting to finish cherry yourself, there are certain facts you should be aware of in order to help you get the final color that you desire.
First, it should be noted that cherry wood naturally tends to darken with age. This occurs almost immediately from the point that the wood is cut, and it is generally wise to let the cherry sit for a while before finishing the piece of furniture, since the aging will go a long way towards providing the darker finished product that you desire.
Secondly, cherry furniture can exhibit a blotchy look if you are not careful when varnishing the piece. This is due to the fact that certain parts of the wood will absorb more of the varnish than other places on the wood. Called end grain, these spots allow more of the finish to penetrate, producing darker spots than the surrounding wood on select places on the furniture.
Naturally, most of us are going to want to avoid as much of this blotching as possible. There are techniques that can help minimize blotching through the sealing of the end grain so that it will not absorb as much varnish as it would if it were not sealed. Perhaps the best way to minimize blotching is to use what is known as a three-pound-cut shellac. As always, eye protection and a face-mask are recommended to keep yourself from inhaling fumes or getting harmful chemicals in your eyes.
You will want to begin with sanding your cherry furniture with a 220-grit sandpaper. Accomplishing this may require you to start with a lower grit and then work up to 220 grit. After you have sanded the piece, make sure to clean it and get it free of dust and shavings before you go on to the next step.
Mix two parts of your three-pound-cut shellac with one part denatured alcohol and then apply the shellac to the furniture. Once the piece is dry, sand it with a 320-grit sandpaper. This will have the effect of removing the shellac from the pieces that are not end grain, for you do not want these parts of the wood to be sealed. The shellac will remain on the end grain and keep it from absorbing too much of the final stain. Now you can apply the stain to the furniture until it is as dark as you wish.
There are other ways of avoiding blotches, such as through the use of a wood conditioner or gel stain. Nevertheless, many woodworking experts recommend the use of shellac alongside your varnish in order to color your cherry furniture evenly.
Allexperts: Refinishing Cherry Furniture — those needing to refinish cherry furniture will find this guide helpful
Blotch-Free Staining — informative guide with pictures on preventing blotches when you stain cherry wood
Blotchy Wood — Q and A on eliminating blotches after staining cherry
Eliminating Finish Blotches — short explanation on how blotching can be avoided when finishing cherry or maple
Finishing Cherry — all about finishing cheery furniture from a wood working website
Furniture Finishing and Restoration — several pages on finishing cherry wood
Home Envy: Cherry Wood Cabinets — guide for finishing cherry cabinets
Special Care in Refinishing Cherry — two-page pdf that explains how to avoid common pitfalls in cherry finishing
Refinishing Furniture — general guide for refinishing all kinds of wood furniture
Staining Blotch-Prone Woods and End grain — basic steps to staining blotch-prone woods like cherry
