Scale bright work

[Kurt Johnson]

If you are trying to create the look of varnished wood or bright work, what gives the best scale appearance if the wood used is cherry? Regular cherry stain on cherry wood doesn’t have much of an effect. It doesn’t have the richness needed and looks washed out. Mahogany stain doesn’t work well either. Neither does Mahogany for the actual wood. Any ideas?

 

Kurt

[mtaylor]

If it's cherry, why not just varnish it?  Cherry does darken with age.  I've done that on two models and looks great to my eye.  But then, I might be prejudiced.

[Kurt Johnson]

That’s true. If I set the wood in the sun for a day before I even use it, it would darken a bit too.

 

Kurt

 

[Jaager]

A stain product is actually a semi transparent paint.  Cherry stain would be used on something like Yellow Poplar,  Using a dye on Cherry is gilding a Lilly.  Using a stain is turning a star into something mundane.

If you want a finish with a reverse gear, consider shellac.  Orange shellac will darken it now without obscuring it.  But, as Marks writes, Black Cherry darkens over time and in few years may be darker than you intended.  Super blonde will not darken it much.  There is a clearer version that is about twice as expensive.  The more layers, the more depth.  If it is too shiny a light buffing with very very fine steel wool with make it satin.   Just do not get it wet.  I am of a mind to use a final layer of Renaissance Wax Polish- but that is just a theory now.

[Bob Cleek]

What Jaager said. Shellac works fine. You can add coats to develop the level of gloss required and if the gloss is too great, it can be toned down using a Scotch-brite pad or steel wool, or simply wiping with a fine cloth dampened with alcohol. Remember that gloss must be toned down on a model to properly depict brightwork to scale.

[allanyed]

Kurt,

For the next time, Swiss/steamed pear is fantastic to work with, has a beautiful reddish color, is very close grained, carves beautifully,  and takes all types of finish coatings well.  No stain needed!!!  

Allan