CHERRY



The warm tones and subtle grain pattern of Cherry make it an excellent interior wood for doors, windows, moldings and especially furniture. The predictable movement of properly dried Cherry and the ease with which it can be worked have made the species a staple material in many craftsmen’s projects.

People love Cherry for its color, but rough sawn Cherry lumber is a much lighter pink than what most expect. Many Cherry finishes are much deeper browns and reds, and this can cause some confusion. Over time and with UV exposure and oxidation, Cherry wood’s color deepens into a beautiful brownish-red, although freshly sawn cherry may not display the specie’s famous colors, rest assured that it eventually will. Many customers choose to expose their Cherry to the sun to speed up this process, while others rely upon dye and/or stains to achieve the deep red color. This “break in” period is something of which everyone should be aware, especially when doing restoration work to match existing trim or furniture.

SPECIES DETAILS

  • Botanical Name: Prunus serotina
  • Color: Heartwood is a light pinkish brown when freshly cut, darkening to a deeper golden brown with time and upon exposure to light. Sapwood is a pale yellowish color.
  • Origin: The Appalachian region
  • Grain/Texture: Has a fine texture with close grain. The grain is usually straight and easy to work—with the exception of figured pieces with curly grain patterns.
  • Rot Resistance: Heartwood is rated as being very durable and resistant to decay
  • Workability: Cherry is known as being one of the best all-around woods for workability. It is stable, straight-grained, and machines well. The only difficulties typically arise if the wood is being stained, as it can sometimes give blotchy results due to its fine, closed pores.
  • Availability: Readily available
  • Uses: Cabinetry, fine furniture, flooring, interior millwork, veneer, turned objects and specialty wood items.

STOCK AVAILABILITY

  • Quarter Sawn Lumber:
  • Quarter sawn Beams:
  • Sawn Lumber
  • Grading: FEQ, S2S, S3S, S4S
  • Round logs
  • Rough squares
  • Wider Boards
  • Drying: KD, AD



SPECIFICATIONS

Character

Green

Dry

Units

Bending Strength
7900
13250
psi
Crushing Strength
410
965
psi
Max Crushing Strength
3435
7865
psi
Static Bending
3600
9900
psi
Impact Strength
38
36
inches
Stiffness
1380
1655
1000 psi
Work to Maximum Load
13
11
in-lbs/in3
Hardness
-
950
lbs
Shearing Strength
-
1700
psi
Specific Gravity
0.47
0.54
-
Weight
46
36
lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage
-
4
%
Tangential Shrinkage
-
7
%
Volumetric Shrinkage
-
12
%