Refinishing Cherry Coffee Table

[juned]

I want to refinish a cherry coffee table but I want it to look lighter in color. Is this possible? I have brazilian cherry floors and I want a contrasting, lighter color for the table. Any suggestions??

[chandler]

Cherry is cherry, so unless it was finished with a much darker stain, you can only get it back to a certain redness. I have used the Formby system to remove finishes on old furniture, and you may find after removing the existing finishes, it will be lighter. No guarantees, but cherry will look fine with the flooring. Don't try to match furniture with flooring, but contrast it to the floor.

[George]

In it's natural (unfinished unstained) state, cherry is very light in color. You may find after stripping the piece the color is fine for what you want.

Oxalic acid ( a wood bleach) can be used to further lighten most woods.