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Wood Specials In Detail: Cherry

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Cherry Wood 101

Cherry wood is known for its beautiful finish and amazing natural properties. Before starting your next project, make sure you learn all there is to know about this gorgeous craft material. Here’s the inside scoop on all things cherry wood.

What Is Cherry Wood?

unfinished cherry leg with sapwood
An example of an unfinished cherry leg with a streak of sapwood.

Cherry wood is a hardwood that originates from the American black cherry tree. You can find these trees throughout the eastern half of the United States, especially in the Midwest.

Among woodworkers, cherry is popular for crafting furniture, cabinetry, and wood paneling. Its natural properties allow it to age gracefully, making it a timeless choice of material for any project.

How It’s Made

Since cherry wood obtains a desirable coloring as it ages, it holds up well throughout all stages of production and manufacturing. The heartwood (the central part of the tree) can sit for a while in a lumber yard without any damage to its aesthetic character.

Cherry lumber goes through similar steps to other wood types before it’s available for consumer purchase. It responds well to moisture removal, taking about two weeks to reach its final dry state.

Recommendations for Cherry Wood

Cherry wood is stain-grade, and many customers prefer the natural hues of cherry over a painted product.

Since cherry can be on the pricier side, alder wood is a more economical option for woodworking projects. Alder mimics the appearance of cherry wood and can be stained to match its natural, rich hue.

Characteristics of Cherry Wood

Cherry wood has great natural qualities that make it a coveted material for a variety of projects. Here’s the rundown on cherry.

At Osborne, we offer two variants of alder: clear alder (known simply as alder), and rustic alder (sometimes called knotty alder). Our clear alder is a clean wood with an even texture, while our rustic alder is quite the opposite. Our rustic alder often features large split knots and open knots in a variety of sizes.

Rustic alder is an ideal wood type for builders looking for a naturally reddish wood that still offers a variety of knots, giving a piece a certain rustic character. If you’re interested in ordering our rustic alder but not sure about the knots, you can view our standards here, along with photos to demonstrate the knots we select for. You can also watch the video below where Tim discusses how we choose lumber for our rustic alder legs, what we do and don’t accept, and more.

Color

The wood is known for its characteristic deep brown hue with notes of cherry red throughout. Cherry sapwood is lighter than its heartwood.

cherry wood laminate

Physical Properties

Cherry wood has a Janka hardness rating of 950 lbf. This ranking places it above Spanish cedar and alder in hardness but below mahogany, hard maple, and hickory.

Mechanical Properties

These are the key mechanical properties of cherry wood:

  • Specific Gravity: 0.5

  • Average Dried Weight: 561 kg/m3

  • Average Volumetric Shrinkage: 9.2%

  • Modulus of Elasticity: 10,274 MPa

  • Modulus of Rupture: 84.81 MPa

The takeaway is that cherry wood boasts strength and moderate density.

Durability

Since cherry wood has a moderate hardness ranking, you can count on it to be resistant to scratching and chipping. It also holds up well against humidity and moisture.

Cherry wood’s strength and durability make it a more luxurious choice than alternatives like alder. If you can afford the higher price point, your investment will pay off in the long run.

Workmanship

Cherry wood is extremely easy to work with. It requires sharp blades to achieve the right shapes without chipping, but in all other aspects, cherry is a workable hardwood. It’s easy to finish or stain and maintains a gorgeous hue over the years.

Advantages of Cherry Wood for Furniture

Furniture should be strong, functional, and attractive. Cherry wood is the perfect contender for these qualities. Thanks to its moderate hardness and beautiful natural coloring, cherry is a great candidate for woodworking projects.

Durability

Customers choose cherry products for their ease of care and long lifespans. The wood is naturally resistant to everyday damage like scratches and tarnishes. It performs well in humid environments, unlike some other woods.

Workability

Cherry is many a woodworker’s choice material for furniture and cabinetry. It’s enjoyable to work with when it comes to shaping, sanding, staining, and other crafty processes.

Attractive Appearance

This hardwood has one of the most beautiful natural finishes, with a deep reddish-brown coloring that darkens over time. You can also speed up the darkening process by exposing cherry wood to light.

Versatility

Cherry wood has a variety of uses, including flooring, paneling, furniture, cabinetry, and shelves. It requires little work to maintain its beauty. Here are a few examples of how our customers have used cherry in their projects:

Fireplace with cherry wood componentsCherry wood dining table with pedestalsCherry wood table top on kitchen island

How Do You Properly Care For and Maintain Cherry Furniture?

With the right care and consideration, cherry furniture will maintain its beautiful aesthetic for years to come.

Here are some general maintenance tips:

  • Use a soft cloth for regular cleaning

  • Keep furniture out of bright sunlight

  • Allow moderate sun exposure for a richer coloring

  • Wipe up spills immediately

  • Avoid using strong chemicals for cleaning

Aim to accentuate cherry furniture’s natural beauty instead of covering it up with polishes, waxes, and other damaging products.

Ordering Cherry Wood at Osborne Wood Products

When it’s available, you can get solid stock cherry wood for a premium price. This is an attractive option for customers who want the purest form of cherry wood to make high-quality products like furniture and cabinets.

Our laminates can also be color-matched to mimic solid cherry wood upon request at an extra cost.

Browse Osborne Wood Products’ Cherry Stock for Project Ideas

Cherry wood is a luxurious option for customers seeking high-quality, timeless furniture. You’re sure to get an abundance of orders by including cherry in your stock.

We’re here to help you learn everything about cherry wood to kick-start your next project. Speak with a product specialist to get started!

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about cherry wood? Here are the answers you’ve been looking for.

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