Asking for trouble?

[cwearing]

wood in question is cherry----thinking about using Watco Danish Oil (cherry) to obtain desired final color. Thinking of continuing with Waterlox or Liberon finishing oil. Will I have any problems?

 

[waltben]

Cherry always starts out a light tan color, but will darken over time all on its own. Quite a while ago I turned several pieces from furniture grade, kiln dried cherry that took over a year to begin to darken, but ones I've turned from cherry I've 'harvested' began darkening within a month. Here's an example - two photos a month apart in time of the same piece.

 

[Joe Greiner]

Unless it's kept in the dark, cherry doesn't have a final color. You can accelerate darkening by briefly applying a lye solution (or oven cleaner), with a vinegar wash to neutralize it.

Or, try anything on a test piece of no consequence. Taking a chance is dangerous. Not taking a chance can be more dangerous.

Joe

 

[MichaelMouse]

In a word - yes. The Watco involves some pigment, and that will collect in the endgrain and give the piece a contrast the natural wood will never have. If you're doing a Pho, you might like it, but if you're looking for natural, let it mellow in. Else expect garishly dark endgrain and light face grain even with a mild stain like the Watco. If you burnish the wood you can get things a bit more equal.

The chemistry that darkens the wood can be helped by high energy light. It can be retarded by kinl-drying which involves leaching initially and then usually a final steam to relax case-hardening. KD cherry will want more time.