Please! Help with Cherry - Woodworking Talk

clarionflyer · 11-20-2008, 06:04 PM

Didn't know where to put this so here it...
A dear woodworker friend just passed. His family gave me a bunch of, mostly, rough milled cherry (and other) he milled from their land.
I've never worked with cherry. I have worked a ton of oak, a lot of pine, and some maple - mostly oak and pine.

First... any "cherry" tips would be helpful. Looking at my experience, I have a deep appreciation for hard and soft woods

.

Second... I'd like to make his family something unique from cherry (his favorite wood).
What is the "project" that screams out "make it with cherry!".
Each wood has it's specialty... what should I make them?

This morning, I started milling the rough cherry, straight and smooth. I can see why everyone loves it.

Kenbo · 11-20-2008, 06:19 PM

I don't know if this is the sort of thing that you are looking for, but my first thought was a nice cherry picture frame with contrasting maple inlays. A photo of your friend in a frame like that would be a fantastic tribute IMHO.
Just a thought.
Ken

jeffreythree · 11-20-2008, 08:52 PM

Watch out for the dreaded cherry blotchiness when you finish it.

Nate1778 · 11-20-2008, 08:58 PM

Use a pre-finisher before finishing. Other than that enjoy, it is a great wood to work with. Just has a tendency to be blotchy....

firehawkmph · 11-21-2008, 12:41 AM

Clarion,
Always liked working with cherry. You'll find it cuts and machines easier than oak. Sands easily, sometimes smells good if it is still green. I haven't had any trouble with the blotchiness in staining. Nowadays people are making a lot of items out of cherry and just using a clear finish. Cherry naturally darkens with age and has a grain that is beautiful in a soft, simle sort of way. Have fun with it. I like the picture frame idea.
Mike Hawkins

gtobeech · 11-21-2008, 05:20 AM

Clarionflyer,
I to received a large amount of cherry from my brother-in-law, all rough sawn. It mills up great, grain is tight so it comes out real smooth. The blotching mentioned can be sanded with a little extra effort. I used clear for finishing. It will darken over time. Have combined it with oak for some contrast. There are some pictures in my album with the two woodes combined. Currently making a bedroom set for the new grand baby on the way. So far I really like using it, but I also love oak.

Tony B · 11-21-2008, 08:53 AM

Everyone has a different idea of what looks good.
Try this: wet a rag with thinner and really wet out a section of planed or sanded cherry. That is real close to what a clear finish will look like. It is almost like a fine honey color. And as others have said, like most woods, it will darken with age.
You decide, it's your wood.

bradnailer · 11-21-2008, 11:24 AM

As far as what to make, how about a couch table or entry way table.

Plane Chatter · 11-22-2008, 11:07 AM

Nearly everyone mentioned blotching. Some said it's not been a problem or can be dealt with by sanding. That hasn't been my experience, but I won't argue the point; if they can do it, more power to them. I'll just say that I've worked with a lot of cherry and there has always been some degree of blotching potential in my experience. It can be a real heartbreaker; after all it mostly shows up when you're all but done (unless you've prefinished some parts). After a while you'll pick up on what boards are going to have the worst problems--they vary because it has to do with grain--but I'd suggest you take a few scrap pieces with different grain characteristics, sand them well, put on some oil or whatever--oil is easy and this is just to see what it's all about. I suspect you'll develop a deep consciousness of what these guys are talking about when they mention blotches. Then read up on how to prevent that unless, like some people, you like the blotches (something else I can't understand, but ok). In any case I would urge you to not learn on a finished piece--try out some scaps and see for yourself. Otherwise cherry is great--maybe a little tricky sometimes with grain direction reversals, but nothing to worry about.

Nate1778 · 11-22-2008, 02:31 PM

I just read a great article on Cherry blotching. First wipe your piece down with alcohol or mineral spirits to get an idea of weather there is blotching or no. Best results they got was from a heavily thinned De-waxed shellac as a pre-treatment. The store bought pre-treaters have worked well for me. Can't remember the rag the article was in.

clarionflyer · 11-22-2008, 05:42 PM

Wow, thanks for all for the tips.
I never realized it could be that blotchy (a little like pine?). I've never been too crazy about the very dark cherry. I thought I might try to keep it lighter. I don't plan on using it, but gel stain works well on pine... how 'bout cherry? I'll certainly have to study up quite a bit before the finish. Thanks again. You'all have surely saved me from screwing up some finish.

Oh... I found a nice "candlestick" night stand I thought I might try. Maybe I'll throw in the picture fame, too. Thanks again.