On Apr 3, 12:26 am, "dwolf" wrote:
I pretty much work with clear coating.. Most of my clients prefer it, and if
they think they don't I convince them..
But I do have a cherry dining table to do that will need to be stained.. I
know cherry is known for blotchiness..
One solution is a pre stain treatment, and the other is gel stain..
I also will be spraying a clear coat of catalyzed varnish, which I prefer
not to color...
So just checking to see what folks here have done..


Cherry darkens rapidly when exposed to sunlight.

Another alternative is to wash it with a sodium hydroxide
(caustic soda lye) solution. The darkness of the effect is
dependent on the strength of the solution. You can rinse
with white vinegar to neutralize the caustic, or just leave
it exposed to the air for a few days as residual sodium
hydroxide will react with carbon dioxide in the air to form
sodium carbonate.

However, Sodium hydroxide is use to make meth-
amphetamine so it is now hard to buy. You can order
over the internet from people who sell soap making
supplies.

I suggest starting with one tablespoon to a pint of water.
Mix and store the solution in a PLASTIC jar or bottle,
it attacks glass. Mix it with COLD water, it is exothermic
and will get hot on its own as it dissolves. Do not allow
the solution to come into contact with aluminum, or
your. Wear goggles and gloves to use it.

If that first solution does not darken the wood enough,
double the strength and try again.

The effect is nearly immediate and produces a color
basically identical to that of natural aging.

--

FF