Will a uv light darken cherry?

[Mitch schiffer]

I am working on a project that I would like to speed up the natural darkening of cherry that happens over time. Will a uv light before I spray finish achieve the same thing as a few years of natural aging?

[Ken Fitzgerald]

I don't know if a UV light will do it but I was able to set a cherry project outside in direct sunlight and it darkened it quite quickly. We live in an arid area, so we don't get much rain.

[Richard Coers]

Not as fast as having the piece sitting in direct sunlight, plus you don't have to use electricity! You can see the difference in a single day of sitting out on the driveway.

[Rich Engelhardt]

Will a uv light before I spray finish achieve the same thing as a few years of natural aging?

In my experience - no.
I tried it on a roll around kitchen cabinet I made.

[Dennis Jarchow]

It's funny how different cherry darkens differently. I have some cherry lumber and cherry plywood I bought in March and some pieces have been sitting in my south office window since then with some painters tape in a few spots. They have barely changed at all in four months.

[Greg Quenneville]

Dennis maybe that window has low e glass which blocks uv?

[Mitch schiffer]

That is interesting that the uv light wouldn't work. What is it about direct sunlight that make cherry darker? I always had thought is was a result of uv exposure.

[Malcolm McLeod]

That is interesting that the uv light wouldn't work. What is it about direct sunlight that make cherry darker? I always had thought is was a result of uv exposure.

I don't pretend to know the 'chemistry' involved, nor why a UV light would not work, but I too have placed projects in the sun to good effect. Never tried a light.

But also consider that I have cherry in my wood storage that has NEVER seen the light of day in a minimum of 40yrs. (when you include the time in my father's storage). It is now the color of b.walnut through and through - and I am positive it is cherry. I am guessing that oxygen is involved, but put emphasis on guessing.

[Jim Becker]

The intensity from a UV lamp may not be very high for safety reasons. If it doesn't require you to wear protective eye gear, it's likely pretty weak. I just use the sun by putting the piece outside on a nice day.

[Don Stephan]

I think baking soda solution darkens cherry quite a bit.

[Stan Calow]

there is a whole range of wavelength that falls within the UV spectrum.

[Jim Becker]

I think baking soda solution darkens cherry quite a bit.

There absolutely are chemical ways to darken the wood.

[Mitch schiffer]

Thanks for the info I will use the sun instead of a light.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Mitch, I did my table table over a 4 day period, rotating the table 90º each day. Good luck!

[Curt Harms]

I've had a couple cherry boards in the basement. No natural light but did have fluorescents for 20+ years before switching to LEDs recently. The cherry boards are darker than when I got them. Whether UV or air exposure I don't know.