After reviewing 10+ years' worth of posting regarding cherry finishing, I have a good feel for the views of the group on this topic. HOWEVER, I still have a question for you guru finishers. I am trying to match an existing finish on several custom cherry pieces in a bedroom set to one that I need to put on a new blanket chest. Although I would like to just sand and apply Watco, I need a more immediate match. The existing finish is aniline dye, NGR alcohol-based (no sealer beforehand) wiped on (!) followed by oil/varnish/spirits blend, 3-4 coats rubbed out, with paste wax final finish. Despite my testing the finish in advance on a smaller board, I am having a terrible time applying the dye to the large chest areas, all sorts of lap marks and blotches. I think my problem in part is that the alcohol is drying too quickly when I am wiping it on. Question - does thinning the dye with additional denatured alcohol make it easier to work, and minimize lap marks? Or do I need to buy Behlen's retarder? Would I have an easier time with water based dyes? Thoughts appreciated.
- posted
19 years ago