NEW! Faster Search Option

Loading
Home › Forums › Fine Woodworking Knots › Wood and Materials

Trick of the eye?

samarafc's picture

Trick of the eye? (post #168586)

samarafc on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 18:48
in

I completed a table top in  cherry. Using one board cut in half then edge glued.  Applying poly as a finish ( no stain). The top when viewed  looking down or across the width of 12" it looks great. However when viewed from one end across the length of 48" is appears to great in color - almost book matached yet when viewed from the other end one board looks dark the other light as if I did not care at all in the match. This is the same board cut in half ( length). What is going on here? How can I explain it the the person who ordered this table.

Thanks,

Rich

-A +A
PeteMohr's picture

Chatoyance (post #168586, reply #1 of 11)

by PeteMohr in reply to samarafc [original] on Wed, 08/10/2011 - 05:24

Chatoyance (or luster). 

There's a good explaination in FWW 182 pg. 26

 

pete

"Man is so made that he can only find relaxation from one kind of labor by taking up another." -Anatole France

samarafc's picture

If you can tell me the word (post #168586, reply #2 of 11)

by samarafc in reply to PeteMohr [original] on Wed, 08/10/2011 - 14:35

If you can tell me the word used to explain this illusion that would be great. I cannot afford to buy the FW collection as so would need to hunt a copy of issue 182.

Thanks,

Rich

DonStephan's picture

As Pete said, the word is (post #168586, reply #3 of 11)

by DonStephan in reply to samarafc [original] on Wed, 08/10/2011 - 16:52

As Pete said, the word is chatoyance.  Some woods look lighter or darker depending on the orientation of the light source, the wood, and your eye.  I think mahogany commonly shows chatoyance, cherry sometimes.  Some will view it as a defect, some a wonder of nature. 

PeteMohr's picture

Chatoyance (post #168586, reply #4 of 11)

by PeteMohr in reply to samarafc [original] on Thu, 08/11/2011 - 07:06

Just Google "Chatoyance" . There are many articles available.

 

pete

"Man is so made that he can only find relaxation from one kind of labor by taking up another." -Anatole France

samarafc's picture

Chatoyance (post #168586, reply #7 of 11)

by samarafc in reply to PeteMohr [original] on Thu, 08/11/2011 - 17:10

Thanks for answering my question. I did not realize you answered my my question in your first response. I thought Chatoyance was an online nickname or handle from the CB days.

Rich

oldusty's picture

  Hi Rich ,          O.K. (post #168586, reply #5 of 11)

by oldusty in reply to samarafc [original] on Thu, 08/11/2011 - 07:48

  Hi Rich ,

         O.K. I'll try to explain what we have learned .

          Chatoyancy is the way the wood reflects light and when flipped or reversed from each other it is common even from the same board . My guess when you glued the piece up you did not lay them both face up in the same direction they grew .

   Hindsight is easy , some woods won't show it as strongly , I notice it mostly on Red Oak especially in the Rift and Qsawn veneers . A book match can create it also .

       Rip it apart and re glue it the other direction so you can sleep at night  better maybe ?

              regards dusty ,boxmaker

samarafc's picture

Chatoyance (post #168586, reply #8 of 11)

by samarafc in reply to oldusty [original] on Thu, 08/11/2011 - 17:15

Thanks for the advice and to all the replies. The most unfortuate aspect of this Is that the top includes overlapping inlays and so after six wait for the customer I need to start over on the top.

Rich

SgianDubh's picture

Chatoyance (post #168586, reply #6 of 11)

by SgianDubh in reply to samarafc [original] on Thu, 08/11/2011 - 11:59

Rich, you'll find some discussion and photographed examples on the way light is refracted or reflected with polished wood on the link below. The web page is a short general discussion on edge joinery considerations in solid wood. The bit on chatoyance is about two thirds or more down. Link: http://www.richardjonesfurniture.com/Articles/panel-glue-ups/panel-glue-ups.html Slainte.

richardjonesfurniture.com

samarafc's picture

Chatoyance (post #168586, reply #9 of 11)

by samarafc in reply to SgianDubh [original] on Mon, 08/15/2011 - 18:39

Again I want to thank all those who have taken the time to respond to my surprise/ dilema. I was to deliver the the custom piece this A.M. I did and was prepeared to discuss the Phenomana. I carried the piece to its final destination and being honest I tried to show how the piece might appear if were placed in a different position. None ..no difference. I asked if it may be placed elsewhere, no, it was ordered for this place. I chose a different place in the house to show it it could be moved. I watched the light and no shift in color. I saw the change in my shop and home before I left to make the delivery. Chatoyance is  mysterious indeed.

Rich

oldusty's picture

 It may be the flouresent (post #168586, reply #10 of 11)

by oldusty in reply to samarafc [original] on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 06:44

 It may be the flouresent lighting in your shop shows different than in the home lighting did .

samarafc's picture

That triggered an old  memory (post #168586, reply #11 of 11)

by samarafc in reply to oldusty [original] on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 18:18

That triggered an old  memory , an article regarding  custom stains and color shift. As a matter of fact  this piece looked more brown than the red of cherry wood in the shop. The piece was much more cherry like when delivered. Still there must have been something about the way this wood fell in the slicing of the log as my cherry usually  looks great in the shop, this board was much different.

Rich