How do I Build Furniture Out of Cherry & Walnut Hardwood?
- 1). Create or choose a plan. This can range from a few scribbled notes or sketches to a full shop drawing done to scale. Starting out, choose plans with materials lists and complete instructions to keep you on track. Woodworking magazines and websites are excellent sources for free and inexpensive plans of all types. Start small to make your first projects a success.
- 2). Make a shopping list. Include all materials, tools and supplies needed for all phases of your project from planning to applying the finish. Buy the best quality you can afford. There is no substitute for the right tool. Borrow or rent larger tools until you can afford to purchase your own. Gather all tools and materials in one place before beginning the project. This will help to ensure completion.
- 3). Cut out and machine all pieces according to your plans. Cherry cuts and machines easily with an even grain that sands smooth with ease. Walnut will require the sharpest blades and additional sanding. It is harder and somewhat more brittle. Both can be worked with standard tools. Cut larger pieces first. Set up and conduct all operations on all pieces with each tool in turn. For example, cut out on the table saw, then move to the drill press and so on, through the remaining steps for your plan.
- 4). Assemble the furniture piece in sections. For example, assemble the front half of a chair separate from the back, allow the glue to set, then assemble the two halves. With either cherry or walnut, sand pieces before assembly to get the most even surface, especially in corners. Dry fit parts without glue to check cuts and size, then disassemble and glue your pieces. Wipe glue from the surface with a dampened rag to keep it from leeching into the grain. Pad your clamps and use plenty. Predrill for screws every time and install other fasteners, such as nails, carefully to avoid splitting.
- 5). Sand pieces well after completing assembly. Proper surface preparation is the key to a good finish. Cherry sands easily. Work with the grain and avoid dipping the sander. Use a damp rag on areas that get cross grain scratches or sander marks, dampen the area and sand again to realign. Cherry can typically be finished with 150-grit sandpaper. Walnut will need to be sanded slightly more carefully. Work strictly with the grain. Fill any checked areas, rough areas in the grain, using a solvent-based wood filler in the right color. These fillers dry harder and take stain more evenly that water-based fillers.
- 6). Wipe the surface of your furniture with a rag dampened in mineral spirits to remove sanding dust. Apply all finishes with a fine-bristle paintbrush, unless otherwise instructed on the finish label. Work in long straight strokes with the grain. Cherry is typically stained to a reddish color, but can be stained lighter to match existing pieces. Test a scrap piece if you are unsure of your finish color and allow it to dry completely for an accurate test. Walnut is typically a medium brown or, in the case of black walnut, an almost ebony color. Either wood can be blended to give a smooth monotone effect with dark stain or allowed to show grain with lighter colors.
- 7). Seal new finishes before allowing furniture to be used with at least two coats of clear finish in your choice of sheen. Match oil-based lacquers with oil-based stains and water-based lacquer with water-based stains for best results. Both types of product have good and bad points. Water bases are typically easier to apply and clean up, but oil generally lasts longer and has a deeper color. Apply finishes with a well-loaded brush to maintain a wet edge for the smoothest surface.