I made some nightstands out of solid cherry and cherry plywood and
finished them only with oil-based polyurethane. Will the cherry still
darken under the polyurethane? I've seen a few responses to this
question in searches, but many of those responding were speculating.
Does anyone have any personal experience with cherry pieces finished
just with oil-based poly (no other oil first) and how they darkened.
Thanks.

Charles

wrote in message
oups.com...
I made some nightstands out of solid cherry and cherry plywood and
finished them only with oil-based polyurethane. Will the cherry still
darken under the polyurethane?

Mine has.

How fast it happens is also light dependant.

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
oups.com...
I made some nightstands out of solid cherry and cherry plywood and
finished them only with oil-based polyurethane. Will the cherry still
darken under the polyurethane?

Mine has.

How fast it happens is also light dependant.



And whether your Poly had UV resistent additives in it? Do you want them
to, or not want them to?

And whether your Poly had UV resistent additives in it? Do you want them
to, or not want them to?
I wanted a piece of goncalo alves to remain light, so I thought would use
outdoor varnish with UV resistance. The varnish company said that it would
get cloudy indoors because it had to be exposed to UV.
Don't know if it is true because I didn't do it.

I have cabinets, a post office desk, and a dining room table with 15+ years
on them. The darkening is obvious, esp on the cabinets where the outside is
darker than the inside. Polyurethane will not prevent darkening (thank
goodness) but it will slow it down considerably. It may take 5 years to
darken to what would occur in a year unfinished.

I think cherry has to be the finest cabinetmaking wood I have had the chance
to use.

Matthew

wrote in message
oups.com...
I made some nightstands out of solid cherry and cherry plywood and
finished them only with oil-based polyurethane. Will the cherry still
darken under the polyurethane? I've seen a few responses to this
question in searches, but many of those responding were speculating.
Does anyone have any personal experience with cherry pieces finished
just with oil-based poly (no other oil first) and how they darkened.
Thanks.

Charles

If the Poly is thick and has UV protectant they will still darken but
very slowly. If it doesn't they darken faster. If you want to spped it
up, set them outside on a few sunny days (ie wait till summer or take a
trip to Austraila). Make sure to keep the exposure pretty consistent
because it can darken them pretty quick.

In article .com,
wrote:

I made some nightstands out of solid cherry and cherry plywood and
finished them only with oil-based polyurethane. Will the cherry still
darken under the polyurethane? I've seen a few responses to this
question in searches, but many of those responding were speculating.
Does anyone have any personal experience with cherry pieces finished
just with oil-based poly (no other oil first) and how they darkened.
Thanks.

Charles


There is nothing more beautiful than naturally darkened cherry.
Tatstes are personal, which is why God made so many different trees.

Rob

mark wrote:
"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
oups.com...
I made some nightstands out of solid cherry and cherry plywood and
finished them only with oil-based polyurethane. Will the cherry
still
darken under the polyurethane?

Mine has.

How fast it happens is also light dependant.



And whether your Poly had UV resistent additives in it? Do you want
them
to, or not want them to?

I want them to.

Matthew wrote:

....
I think cherry has to be the finest cabinetmaking wood I have had the chance
to use.

It certainly is one of the nicest for developing patina although it can
be somewhat cantankerous for wanting to chip, etc...

For simply working properties I think walnut as almost the perfect
combination...

wrote in message
oups.com...
I made some nightstands out of solid cherry and cherry plywood and
finished them only with oil-based polyurethane. Will the cherry still
darken under the polyurethane? I've seen a few responses to this
question in searches, but many of those responding were speculating.
Does anyone have any personal experience with cherry pieces finished
just with oil-based poly (no other oil first) and how they darkened.
Thanks.

Charles

A recipe box made from fine light cherry for my wife and finished with poly
has darkened beautifully over the past 4 years. She keeps it in a place
where sunlight doesn't hit it and so it's changing color very slowly, but
perceptibly. If you must, one way to prevent this is to keep the piece
covered.

Bob