McKay
It will react with any wood that has tanin. At least that is what I think that it does. I do not like to muddy cherry with stain, but I am too impatient to have the cherry age. I make a quart and have it standing by. At times I have treated the cherry and I thought that I had ruined the cherry because at times it will go a putrid greenish color. But once the wood is shot with lacquer, it really pops. I never get tired of seeing it pop. Because the lye is dissolved in water, the grain is raised. I go over the cabinet with 600 w or d and then shoot it. I also sand between all spray coats.