This shot glass is turned from cherry wood—a domestic hardwood known for its warm tones, subtle grain, and slow-building patina. The surface reveals soft waves of reddish-brown with hints of golden undertones, deepening over time with exposure to light and use.
Cherry is a rewarding but temperamental wood, especially for makers who rely on burnishing and high-friction finishing techniques. Daniel prefers to use heat to help cure walnut oil, but cherry “burns” easily under high-speed sanding, making the finishing process a careful dance between pressure and patience.
The result is a smooth, sealed surface finished with polymerized walnut oil, beeswax, and carnauba wax—bringing out the wood’s natural glow without compromising its integrity. This piece is a quiet study in restraint, shaped by experience and a respect for the material’s limits.
