Furniture Finishing & Restoration

Finishing Cherry

"Lacquer & Shellac - Page 2"

This sample has been aging for less than a year and has nice coloring. As time goes by, the wood will get darker until it reaches the fully aged coloring. It's the same sample used for the "suntan" picture and the color difference between the top and bottom section of the board became unnoticable after a while. Depending on the amount of light and the angle it hits the wood, the color appears lighter (more yellow/orange) from one angle or darker and more reddish/brown like the color in this picture. Lighting plays a big role in the way the wood looks.

In the "Introduction" section, I mentioned that cherry has an "impressive look of depth where the subtle shades and hues of color seem to originate from deep within." This effect is called "shimmer," "chatoyance," or "directionality." The effect in cherry is rather unique; the wood has it whether there is curly figure or not. When light hits it at the right angle, the colors seem to glow from somewhere inside the wood. This picture captures the effect well enough to convey the idea; it can be quite impressive in person.

This is a cherry door that was finished with lacquer a few years ago (maybe 5 years ago?). The wood has become pretty dark during that time and I don't expect it will get too much darker. In the raised panel section, there are two "stripes" of sapwood running vertically. Sapwood turns a "toasted marshmallow" shade of brown as it ages and contrasts the heartwood nicely. You can use the contrast to your advantage when you design a piece.