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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. 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