Chemical Treatment Coloring wood by exposure to sun or chemical agents another way to color wood. Sunburn' and lye application are two ways to simulate the effect of aging on cherry. Finishing professionals sometimes use either of these practices to get simulated aged cherry wood for repairing old furniture when real aged cherry is not available. Raw cherry will 'sunburn'. Work only with unfinished wood.
Direct sunlight causes blistering in new finishes.
Be sure to provide a way to allow complete, even exposure of the piece to sunlight. 3-4 hours exposure in midday sun is the maximum required. Let it dry. Let it dry. You will get slightly different results on different pieces with this procedure, as it is hard to standardize.