Black Cherry

Scientific name:
Prunus serotina

Other names:
Black cherry
Capulin
Cherry
Chisos wild cherry
Choke cherry
Edwards Plateau cherry
Escarpment cherry
Gila chokecherry
Mountain black cherry
New England mahogany
Plum
Rum cherry
Southwestern chokecherry
Whiskey cherry
Wild black cherry

Black cherry is reported to be the largest of all North American cherries, attaining heights of about 100 feet (30 m) in the favorable climate of the Appalachian. The average tree is reported to be about 80 feet (24 m) in height, and produces a tall trunk which is about 24 inches (60 cm) in diameter.

Quartersawn pieces are reported to be very beautiful. Cherry is reported to have a strong resemblance to true Mahogany, and is often called New England mahogany; Luster has been described as rich and satiny. The wood has no characteristic odor or taste.

Weight:
Basic specific gravity (ovendry weight/green volume) 0.54; air-dry density N/A.

Use:
Turning, carving, furniture, interiors, cabinetwork, musical instruments, and decorative veneer.

General characteristic:
The heartwood varies in color from reddish brown to deep red, or light reddish brown, usually with brown flecks and some gum pockets. 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 reported to be rather significant.

The narrow sapwood is whitish to reddish brown in color. The wood has also been described as creamy pink. Texture is fine and uniform, and the wood often has narrow brown pith flecks and small gum pockets; The grain is reported to be fine, but material with dark wavy streaks which are described as striking in appearance are frequently found.

Working properties:
The wood exerts moderate blunting effect on cutting edges. Black cherry is reported to saw cleanly. The wood is reported to have excellent planing qualities and works to produce smooth, clean surfaces. The wood can be turned easily, and bore cleanly to yield holes with smooth surfaces little variation in hole size. Black cherry is reported to respond well to moulding.

The wood is reported to have excellent mortising properties. The wood glues very well. Nailing qualities are reported to be good. Screw-holding properties are reported to be good. The wood has good polishing characteristics. The material is reported to take stains and all types of finishes very well.

Drying and shrinkage:
The wood dries fairly quickly. Rapid drying may cause severe warping since the ratio of shrinkage in the tangential to the radial direction can be more than twice. Defects include warp, ring shake, and honeycomb due to wetwood (not common). Shrinkage during drying is common in this species, and warping can be reduced by weighting down stacks.

Kiln Schedule T8-B4 is suggested for 4/4 stock and T5-B3 for 8/4. Shrinkage green to ovendry: radial 4%; tangential 7%. Seasoned wood is reported to be dimensionally stable, and retains its shape very well after manufacture.

Durability:
Heartwood is reported to be very resistant to decay, but the sapwood is vulnerable to attack by the furniture beetle. Natural resistance to decay is reported to be of little concern because of the typical uses of the wood. The heartwood is moderately resistant to preservative treatment. Addition of ultra-violet light inhibitors has been suggested to prevent color change.

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