General Description
The heartwood of cherry varies from rich red to reddish brown and will darken with age and on exposure to light. In contrast, the sapwood is creamy white. The wood has a fine uniform, straight grain, satiny, smooth texture, and may naturally contain brown pith flecks and small gum pockets.
Working Properties
Cherry is easy to machine, nails and glues well and when sanded and stained, it produces an excellent smooth finish. It dries fairly quickly with moderately high shrinkage, but is dimensionally stable after kiln-drying.
Physical Properties
The wood is of medium density with good bending properties, it has low stiffness and medium strength and shock resistance.
Main Uses
Fine furniture and cabinet making, mouldings and millwork, kitchen cabinets, paneling, flooring, doors, boat interiors, musical instruments, turnings and carvings.
Cherry Gallery
Cherry Stats
| Learn More About Cherry: | Click Here |
| Scientific Name: | Prunus serotina |
| Common Names: | Cherry, Black Cherry, Wild Cherry |
| Market Availability: | Usually available in 4/4 – 8/4. Limited availability in 10/4 – 12/4 |
| FSC Availability: | Yes |
| Common Uses: | Flooring, cabinets, furniture, mouldings |
| Regional Differences: | Northern and Appalachian Cherry are similar. Cherry from Pennsylvania is generally believed to have the best color and lowest gum pocket content |
| Color Specifications: | Unselected, Unlimited Sapwood, Red 1 Face, The red heartwood content of each face is often specified as a percentage |
| Grade: | NHLA Standard Grade Rules |
| Defects to consider: | Gum pocket |
| Alternatives: | Soft Maple, White Birch (when both are stained) |
| Shipping Weight: | Kiln Dried 3760 lbs/MBF (723 kg/m3) |
| Specific Gravity: | Kiln Dried 0.51, Green 0.45 |
| Compressive Strength: | (Perpendicular to grain) 690 psi |
| Janka Hardness: | (Pounds-force) 950 |
