Replica of 1840 clock

The best way to stain & and finish a cherry Hancock wall clock 


-Don R.
Alton, Il

Our Expert

That's a tough question because finishes are so subjective. Do you prefer a hard glossy finish or a satin sheen? Cherry ages rather quickly and the color changes from the salmon pink to a rich reddish brown in just a few months. Do you want to color the wood or just let it age naturally?


If you visit an antique store or a museum you'll see that old cherry furniture is often very dark and dirt, wax and grime have settled into the crevices around moldings and carvings. The old patina is very valuable to antique collectors and should not be removed. Do you wish so simulate that look or do you want the finish to appear new?


Also, much is written today about the so-called "blotching" that often appears when a finish is applied to cherry. However, quite frankly, the blotching is part of the figure and character of cherry just as it is in flame birch and tiger maple. In fact, old cherry furniture that has never been stained or artificially colored often has a blotchy appearance.


I've listed a the steps below to a simple finish. I recommend that, just as with any finish, that you try it out first on a sample panel to be certain that you like the look.


1. Apply a liberal coat of oil-based wiping varnish and wipe away any that has not soaked in within five minutes.

2. Apply several coats of garnet shellac. Cut the shellac to 1lb to make it easy to apply. Rub the shellac with 0000 steel wool after each coat.

3. Apply a coat of paste wax and buff it to a satin sheen.

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