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Blunting Effect Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Prunus serotina Trade Name Black cherry Family Name Rosaceae Synonyms Prunus salicifolia, Cerasus serotina Common Names American black cherry, Black cherry, Cabinet cherry, Capollin, Capuli, Capulin, Capulin cherry, Cerezo, Cerezo de Los Andes, Cherry, Chisos wild cherry, Choke cherry, Chokecherry, Detze, Edwards Plateau cherry, Escarpment cherry, Ghoto, Gila chokecherry, Mountain black cherry, Muji, New England mahogany, Pa-kshmuk, Plum, Rum cherry, Southwestern chokecherry, Spate traubenkirsche, Tnunday, Whiskey cherry, Wild black cherry, Wild cherry, Xeugua Regions of Distribution North America, Western Europe Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Canada, Switzerland, United States Common Uses Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building, Bobbins, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Caskets, Chairs, Chests, Coffins, Concealed parts (Furniture), Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Drum sticks, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles: general, Hatracks, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Living-room suites, Mathematical instruments, Millwork, Moldings, Musical instruments , Musical instruments, Musical instruments: piano, Novelties, Office furniture, Paneling, Plywood, Scientific instruments, Sculpture, Skis, Specialty items, Toys, Turnery, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Woodenware Environmental Profile Extinct Endangered Widespread, abundant, and globally secure Rare in some parts of its range, particularly at the periphery Data source is Nature Conservancy Distribution Overview In North America, Black cherry is distributed in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Illinois, Georgia, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. It sometimes occurs in pure stands, and can thrive, with the exception of very wet or very dry soils, on many sites, including soil without much lime and good drainage. As many as five varieties of Black cherry are known. Heartwood Color Red Brown Yellow Orange Purple Black Pink Reddish brown Brown Greenish to greyish Dark brown Red Brown flecks and gum pockets may be present Some flooring manufacturers are reported to steam Black cherry lumber to bleed the darker heartwood into the sapwood for a more uniform color. Color variations between boards are rather significant Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Green/Grey White to yellow Paler than heartwood Whitish White to light pink Well defined Pinkish Bright orange red to reddish brown Grain Straight Figure Closed Even Rays (figure) Wavy Growth rings (figure) Fine Straight Rays figure Wavy Grain is fine Clear growth rings (figure) Attractive dark wavy streaks Strong resemblance to true Mahogany, and is often called New England mahogany. Pieces with dark wavy streaks which are described as striking in appearance are frequently found Texture Coarse Medium Fine Fine Fine and uniform Luster Low Medium High Lustrous Dull Rich and satiny Natural Growth Defects Gum and mineral deposits Natural Durability Very durable Resistant to termites Durable Non-resistant to marine borers Susceptible to insect attack Moderately durable Resistant to powder post beetles Moderately durable Sapwood is vulnerable to attack by furniture beetles Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Heartwood is very resistant to decay and termite attack Natural resistance to decay is of little concern because of the typical uses of the wood. Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Some toxic effects Respiratory effects Kiln Schedules T8 - B4 (4/4) US T5 -B3 (8/4) US Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Checking Splitting Distortion Slight twist/warp No twisting or warping No surface checking Weighing down stacks reduces warping Slight surface checking Slight collapse and honeycomb Severe shrinkage may result Moderate twist/warp Drying degrade due to ring shakes is generally slight Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Little degrade Easy Moderate In rapid dryig the ratio of tangential to radial is more than twice Dries rapidly Controlled drying conditions will prevent rapid drying and yield best results. Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Slow Naturally dries quickly Drying rate is slow Tree Size Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 40-50 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Bole length is 0-10 m Black cherry is the largestof all North American cherries. The trees are famous for their wood, but they are also attractive, flowering species Product Sources States in the United States that lead in the production of cherries in commercial quantities are reported to include Michigan, Washington, Oregon, Utah, California, New York, Pennsylvania, and Idaho. The popularity of cherry in the furniture market has increased over the years because of its warmth, personality, and ease of use. The price of cherry is based on the absence of each of the three basic characteristics of the wood: gum or pockets and streaks, pin knots, and figures. The wood is usually graded by the amount of character it has, and cherry without any figure markings is rather difficult to find. Cherry lumber is slightly more expensive than oak. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good The use of UV light inhibitors in coatings has been suggested to prevent the color change. Blunting Effect Moderate Little Medium effect Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Fairly difficult to very difficult Little variation of hole size Bores smoothly Number of good to excellent pieces after boring one hundred pieces = 100 Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Easy to saw Moderate to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Excellent surfaces Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Moderate gluing properties Glues very well Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult There is a 100% average of excellent results Excellent mortising properties Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Responds well (an average of 80% yield good results) Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Stable Retain shape after manufacture Dimensionally stable after seasoning Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Good nailing properties Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Planes well, to a good finish Reduction of cutting angle recommended Excellent planing qualities Easy to plane Areas of irregular grain tend to tear surfaces 80 out of a 100 yield perfect results Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Heartwood is moderately resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Generally good response Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Screwing yields good results Holds screws well Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Good results Finish is generally satisfactory Easy to turn 88% of pieces turn with excellent results Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Suitable for peeling Veneers moderately easy Various figures can yield decorative veneers No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Moderately easy to veneer Black cherry crotches and burls are highly sought after for figured veneers. Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Unsuitable Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good It has been compared to Beech and Ash in steam bending properties Painting Good results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Surface Preparation Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Surface Preparation Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Stains very well Finish is generally good Finished Cherry wood is very handsome because of its rich luster and reddish brown color which turns richer and darker with age. Addition of ultra-violet light inhibitors has been suggested to prevent color change. Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = soft Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Bending strength (MOR) = low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = small Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Work to Maximum Load Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = medium Max. crushing strength = low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Bending strength (MOR) = high American Black cherry has been described as a wood with many moods, and is usually considered to be in the same class as mahogany for usage in the United States Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7612 12363 psi Crushing Strength 402 946 psi Density 34 lbs/ft3 Hardness 788 lbs Impact Strength 37 34 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3586 7015 psi Shearing Strength 1559 psi Static Bending 3528 9702 psi Stiffness 1383 1627 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 10 10 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.45 0.51 Weight 35 34 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 12 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 535 869 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 28 66 kg/cm2 Density 544 kg/m3 Hardness 357 kg Impact Strength 93 86 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 252 493 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 109 kg/cm2 Static Bending 248 682 kg/cm2 Stiffness 97 114 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.70 0.70 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.45 0.51 Weight 560 544 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % References Bolza, E.,1976,Timber and Health,Div. Building Res. C.S.I.R.O. Australia Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois and E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods: Temperate and Tropical. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Madison, Wisconsin. Brenan, J.P.M., Greenway, P.J.,1949,Check-lists of the Forest Trees and Shrubs of the British Empire,Imperial Forestry Institute, Oxford No.5 Tanganyika Territories Part 2 Brown, H.P. and Panshin, A.J.,1940,Commercial Timbers of the United States Their structure, identification,,properties and uses,McGraw-Hill, London Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World: - No.7 North America,TRADA California Department of Forestry. Comparative Physical & Mechanical Properties of Western & Eastern Hardwoods. Prepared by Forest Products Laboratory, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California. n/d. Canadian Forestry Service. 1981. Canadian Woods - Their Properties and Uses. Third Edition. E.J. Mullins and T.S. McKnight, Editors. Published by University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Canada. Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London Forest Products Research Laboratory U.K.,1957,A Handbook of Softwoods,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research,HMSO Gatchell, C.J.,1971,American Woods - Black Cherry,USDA, Forest Service American Woods FS-229 Gomes Mauro, J., Occhioni, P.,1954,Pulping of Latin-American Woods,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison Report,2012,964 Harrar, E.S.,1942,Some Physical Properties of Modern Cabinet Woods 3. Directional and Volume,Shrinkage,Tropical Woods,9(71, pp26-32 Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting Jackson, A. and D. Day. 1991. Good Wood Handbook - The Woodworker's Guide to Identifying, Selecting and Using the Right Wood. Betterway Publications, Cincinnati, Ohio. Kaiser, J. 1992. Wood of the Month - Cherry: The Handsome, Regal Fruitwood. Wood & Wood Products, March, 1992. Page 48. Kaiser, J. 1989. Wood of the Month - Cherry: 'New England Mahogany' is in Style Again. Wood of the Month Annual, Supplement to Wood of the Month, Volume 1, Page 22. Kaiser, J. 1994. Wood of the Month - Cherry: An American Tradition for Fine Furniture. Wood and Wood Products, December, 1994. Page 48. Kline, M. 1977. Prunus serotina - Black cherry. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 291-291. Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12 Kukachka, B.F.,1962,Characters of Some Imported Woods,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,,Foreign Wood Series,No.2242 Little, E.L. 1980. The Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Western Region. Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York. Markwardt, L.J., Wilson, T.R.C.,1935,Strength and related properties of woods grown in the United States,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture Technical Bulletin,No.479 Mullins, E.J. and McKnight, T.S.,1981,Canadian Woods Their Properties and Uses,University of Toronto Press 3rd Edition NWFA. 1994. Wood Species Used in Wood Flooring. Technical Publication No. A200. National Wood Flooring Association, Manchester, MO. Panshin, A.J. and C. deZeeuw. 1980. Textbook of Wood Technology, 4th Edition. McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York. Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press Rendle, B.J. Editor. 1969. 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