Cherry in the sun?
#20
I've put cherry items, like a medium sized armoire, etc, out in the sun to darken with no problems.  As long as it isn't blazing hot, it shouldn't be an issue.
Reply
#21
Dave, almost every cherry or mahogany piece I build gets pot di. I order mine on eBay of all places. You can control the color by controlling the concentration. Here is a dilute coat and a full strength coat.

 photo DB253AC6-DDA7-4CDB-A325-DA67C65DFFBC_zpswmflrutp.jpg


 photo P1030244.jpg
Reply
#22
3 hours in the sun is more than enough to hasten the darkening process. Just one time, you will notice the tops a bit darker the following day in your shop. As others said, do nothing and the cherry will still darken over time. Sunlight helps it along.
mike
Reply
#23
This is the basket of a cradle. The shadow you see is from the leg that holds it up. There was about a one inch gap between the two. It sat in a sunny room, but never in direct light, for about a year. Cherry darkens in some weird ways.

   
How do you know you're learning anything if you don't screw up once in awhile?

My blog: http://birdsandboards.blogspot.com/
Reply
#24
Photo 
(05-14-2017, 04:54 AM)Sawdustd Wrote: Bob -    Where do you buy the Potassium Chromate and do you buy it in crystal form or in bottles?

Dave

 The first pound I used I bought at the camera store that sold photographic supplies.  It was used in the processing of color film.  The next pound was needed 20 years later and that was a group buy purchased by a friend from an internet source.  I just decanted it into the original bottle.  I gave away more of the crystal than I actually used.  A little bit of the solution goes a long, long way.

the concentration is a few teaspoons per quart of water. Its a very weak solution I've had it on my hands several times and it turns the skin a little yellow and that's about it. I use rubber gloves or that reason. Its not really all that caustic in such a weak solution that's appropriate for staining wood.

   
Reply
#25
Doesn't anyone use lye any more?  It has been my cherry darkening go to since I discovered it 10 or 15 yrs ago.  It is getting hard to find. I heard, but cannot confirm, that it is used to make some kind of illegal drug, and for that reason many stores no longer carry it.
I had a good day. I used every tool I own!
Reply
#26
Shhhhhhh this is the secret stash  
Big Grin
Worst thing they can do is cook ya and eat ya

GW
Reply
#27
DON'T DO IT!!

Unless you want to see your top turn into a potato chip.
Reply
#28
Here's a recent presentation on the subject of darkening with lye.   Test, test, test, samples, samples, samples.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_conti..._nsE7Jxcbs



On the other hand, here's a keeping box I made from air-dried cherry.  Applied BLO and let sit in the afternoon sun for a few days and got several year's worth of  patina.  Then applied SealCoat shellac.


Attached Files Image(s)
   
Reply


Forum Jump:


Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)

Product Recommendations

Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work around the shop. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality.