Cherry
Color Range
The heartwood begins as a light pinkish-brown or creamy salmon hue. The sapwood is a pale, yellowish-white. Cherry is highly sensitive to light and oxygen. It undergoes a dramatic darkening process, often reaching 80% of its final rich reddish-brown color within the first 6 to 12 months.
Grain
It features a fine, closed grain and a satiny, uniform texture similar to maple.
Texture
It frequently contains small, dark "pitch pockets" or gum streaks, which are considered a natural beauty mark of the species
Other Names
Black cherry, Capulin, Cherry, Chisos wild cherry, Choke cherry, Edwards Plateau cherry, Escarpment cherry, Gila choke cherry, Mountain black cherry, New England mahogany, Plum, Rum cherry, Southwestern chokecherry, Whiskey cherry, Wild black cherry
Typical Uses
Fine Furniture: A premier choice for heirloom desks, tables, and cabinets. Interior Specialty: Frequently used for architectural millwork, molding, high-end doors, and musical instruments. Kitchenware: Popular for cutting boards, bowls, and wooden utensils due to its tight grain and non-toxic properties. Residential Flooring: Suitable for bedrooms or low-traffic areas where its warmth and luster are valued, though it is prone to denting in high-traffic commercial settings.
Weight
3
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lbs /Bd. Ft. | -16.20% lighter than red oak (3.58 /bd. ft.)
Hardness
660
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Janka Rating | -48.84% softer than red oak (1290 psi)
Density
0.54
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Specific Gravity | -15.62% less dense than red oak (.64)
Strength, Stability, and Durability
Strength, Stability, and Durability here.
Workability / Finishing
Workability: It is often cited by woodworkers as one of the best domestic species for machining, turning, and hand-carving. Finishing Caution: Due to its closed-pore structure, it can be prone to blotchiness if stained without a pre-conditioner or sealer like shellac. It also tends to burn quickly if worked with dull blades or at slow feed rates.