Okay so it took me a while

[Timbeck2]

to figure out that people who don't know anything about wood don't necessarily want cherry. They want the color of aged cherry. I make flag cases and shadow boxes on the side and when I presented my sample pieces of wood they pointed to one and asked what kind of wood that was, I said "cherry" to which they replied, "that's not cherry, cherry is much darker than that."


Tim and off to buy a crapload of poplar.

[Boxman]

Smart move.

[Mags®]

If you go with poplar, you better find a good source of dye.

I recommend these guys...

http://www.wdlockwood.com/main.html

Powder based and cheap as **** compared to other places. My coffee table was dyed using "red mahagony" from these guys.

[Timbeck2]

Minwax has a new (how new, I don't know but I just noticed it the other day) product out that is an all in one gel in a squeeze bottle. Red mahogany is the color I use for...ahem..cherry.

It's called Wood Sheen - rubbing oil, stain and finish.

[thooks]

Stain the Alder.

[Timbeck2]

Will do....btw, Baboo said the same thing. I just think alder is pretty just the way it is, no sapwood like cherry and no green wood like poplar.

I think I can get alder cheaper than poplar anyway. Too bad everyone has caught on that alder is a viable alternative to other woods. I can remember buying alder for .90 a bd ft a couple years ago, $1.20 a bd ft for clear.