Cherry

Cherry - prunus serotina

General Description
• The heartwood varies from rich red to reddish brown
• The sapwood is creamy white and considered a defect unless called out in the specs
• Will darken with age and exposure to light
• Has a fine, uniform, straight grain, satiny smooth texture, and contains brown pith flecks and small gum pockets
• When sanded and stained, produces an excellent smooth finish

Physical Properties
• The wood is of medium density with medium shock resistance
• Janka Rating System = 950 (higher Janka rating = harder wood)

Where It Grows
• Eastern U.S.
• Principally in Northern and Lake states
• Average tree is 60 to 70 feet

Relative Abundance
• 3.9 percent of total U.S. hardwoods commercially available
• Readily available

• 
  Cherry Select

  Featuring rich red tones, Cherry Select has a minimized amount of color variation along with reduced allowance for pin knots and other natural characteristics. Cherry Select may still display small amounts of pitch pockets on the face, as this naturally occurs in Cherry.
• 
  Cherry Finish Grade

  Cherry Finish Grade is designed to be used when having your products finished by Decore-ative Specialties. With Finish Grade materials you will receive the material option that best suits the look you have selected, whether you choose a clear or stain finish. As a result, the amount of natural color or grain may vary depending on the selected finish.
• 
  Cherry Natural

  Featuring a larger amount of variation in natural characteristics, Cherry Natural may contain pitch pockets, closed knots, pin knots, sapwood shown on the face and more color variation than other grades of Cherry.
• 
  Cherry

  Cherry typically features more natural characteristics common in the Cherry specie and will show reddish color tones, with light colored sapwood. This material may also have an allowance for small closed knots, pin knots, pitch pockets and mineral streaks. Drawer Boxes allow for sapwood.
• 
  Cherry Preferred

  Used for drawer boxes, Cherry Preferred has similar characteristics of Cherry Select. It features red tones, little to no sapwood on the outside, even color and grain patterns, and a reduced allowance for knots. Pitch pockets may still show in this material, as they naturally occurs throughout Cherry.
• 
  Cherry Rustic Knotty

  Showing a large amount of variation in the material, Cherry Rustic Knotty will display an allowance for larger-sized open knots, knots that contain star cracks, heavier amounts of color variation, sapwood on face and pitch pockets.
• 
  Plain Sliced Cherry

  Used for Veneer Doors, Plain Sliced Cherry will display a consistent grain pattern and even red tones. As this is considered a Select Grade material, it will have a reduced allowance for knots, color variation, and mineral streaking. There may be an allowance for some pitch to be shown on the face, as it occurs naturally throughout Cherry.
• 
  Cherry Cabinet Grade

  Used for Sheet Goods, Cherry Cabinet Grade offers similar color and grain characteristics as Cherry Natural, however this material is usually offered with more natural defects than a Select or Natural Grade. The Cabinet Grade typically is used to offer a more economical price for the lower grade face and back. Due to the higher allowance for pin knots, small closed knots, color and grain variation and more, this material is not recommended for clear finishes or use on End Panels.
• 
  Cherry Veneer / MDF

  Cherry Unfinished Veneer on a MDF core will display a fairly consistent color and grain pattern.