How to Darken Cherry Cabinets

Cherry wood is one of the finer types of furniture-making material you can buy. It is naturally dark, and traditionally is stained to be even darker, in ways that bring out the natural red tones of the wood. Whether you are finishing cherry furniture for the first time, or re-staining a piece that's already been finished previously, it's important that you sand it down to bare wood before you start, so that the wood grain will accept the new stain. A coat of polyurethane seals and all in all gives it the classic shine of cherry furniture.

Screwdriver
Newspapers
Vibrating power pad sander
Sandpaper in heavy, medium and fine grit levels
Finishing paintbrushes
Dark cherry wood stain
Old rags
Polyurethane (in a spray can)

Instructions

- 1
  Spread out newspapers around the cabinet area. Disassemble the cabinets, removing all hinges, knobs and other hardware. Lay out all the doors and other pieces.
- 2
  Set up the vibrating sander with its heavy sandpaper. Sand the surface of each piece, taking off all the existing finish and digging into the top layer of the wood.
- 3
  Repeat the sanding process twice more, using medium sandpaper and then fine sandpaper, to get all the old finish off, leaving the surface open and clear.
- 4
  Apply wood stain over one section of the cabinet with your finishing brush, laying it on heavily. Let the stain sit for about a minute, then wipe off the access with old rags.
- 5
  Repeat the staining process for each section of the cabinet. Let the stain set 24 hours.
- 6
  Coat the whole cabinet with a polyurethane gloss, spraying it on in thin layer. Let it dry four to five hours, lightly buff with fine sandpaper, wipe off the dust, and spray it again. Repeat, adding at least three layers and up to five, according to the look you want.
- 7
  Put the cabinet back together.

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