Lumber question

[WJD]

I build furniture, etc. out of cherry lumber. I had about 10 board feet left over from a couple of years ago. Purchased 50 board feet a couple weeks ago. It is lighter in color than the older lumber.
My question is will cherry lumber get darker with age?
Thanks,
Bill.

 

[Oldiron29]

Most all woods darken in color when exposed to day light. oldiron29

 

[VaTom]

Actually, it's only light color woods that darken with sun exposure. Dark heartwoods like walnut and hickory lighten.

WJD, take a piece of cherry and put a ruler on it for awhile. A few days and you'll see where the ruler shaded the wood. Sapwood in any species is not much affected, but what we're interested in usually is the heartwood.

Commercial cherry furniture is generally sprayed with a toner to make it appear "aged" (darker). It won't ever get the depth of color that your cherry will achieve without the toner. Many customers "know" what cherry looks like and won't be patient for new wood to get there. They don't buy furniture from me. The toner is like a thin coat of paint.

If you're using heartwood and sapwood indiscriminately, you'll regret it when the cherry matures. If you're using sapwood for planned contrast, it can be very attractive.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

My experience is that Cherry will get darker and red oak, if you stain it with fruitwood stain like the Amish use, will get lighter with age.

 

[VADAVE]

YES! All the way to BLACK.
If you want to prevent it from darkening apply a good polyurythane or varnish AND keep it a dark place. At least out of the direct sunlight.
After i make a piece I let it set in the sun till the color is what I desire then finish it and keep it out of the direct sunlight.
BTW if you want to lighten the darker piece jsut sand it.

 

[2x4]

You could have a mixture of tame cherry & Black (wild) Cherry. While close in color, the difference is easily noticed. Tame cherry is darker but has a sheen to it, seen from a distance. An experienced eye can tell which stack is which while driving by.

 

[JRSutton]

Yes - cherry is well known for its darkening as it ages.

The difference between two peices of a different shade will eventually get less noticeable over time - but I've never tried with anything TOO different.

 

[36 Coupe]

Just sawed some black walnut.The sapwood is white off the saw and darkens fast in sunlight.