American cherry is a hardwood native to eastern USA. Its heartwood ranges from a dark, rich red to a reddish brown, and is prized for high-end interior applications, turning and carving, and musical instruments.
American Black Cherry, Black Cherry, Rum Cherry
Prunus serotina
Predominantly grown in the eastern regions of the USA, American cherry is a highly prized hardwood for a vast range of interior and other applications. Heartwood ranges from rich reds to reddish browns, while the sapwood is creamy white. Sapwood can be steamed to darken the colour. The wood has a fine, uniform grain with a smooth texture; it can contain pith flecks and gum pockets that are considered to add to the distinctiveness of the timber.
American cherry has good workability, as it is easy to machine, nail and glue. It is also an excellent timber for turning and carving, making it popular in the construction of musical instruments. It is of medium density, has good bending properties, low stiffness, and has medium strength and shock resistance.
The main reason for the timber's popularity for high-end applications, such as furniture, cabinet making, boat interiors and musical instruments, is its ease of workability and that it sands, stains and polishes to a smooth finish, highlighting its rich colouring.
American cherry is readily available in the USA as both sawn timber and veneer and in a range of grades and specifications. It is available in Australia from specialist timber suppliers.
Shrinkage
| Very Low | Low | Medium | High | Very High | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Tangential :
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4.50% | ||||
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Radial :
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2.30% | ||||
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Unit Movement Tangential:
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0.25% | ||||
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Unit Movement Radial:
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0.13% |
Strength Group
| Very High | High | Reasonably High | Medium High | Medium | Reasonably Low | Low | Very Low | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unseasoned: | S1 | S2 | S3 | S4 | S5 | S6 | S7 | S8 |
| Seasoned: | SD1 | SD2 | SD3 | SD4 | SD5 | SD6 | SD7 | SD8 |
Stress Grade
|
Structural No. 1 |
Structural No. 2 |
Structural No. 3 |
Structural No. 4 |
Structural No. 5 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unseasoned: | |||||
| Seasoned: |
Density per Standard
| Seasoned: | 500kg/m3 |
|---|---|
| Unseasoned: | 790kg/m3 |
Joint Group
| Very High | High | Reasonably High | Medium | Low | Very Low | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unseasoned: | J1 | J2 | J3 | J4 | J5 | J6 |
| Seasoned: | JD1 | JD2 | JD3 | JD4 | JD5 | JD6 |
Colour
| White, yellow, pale straw to light brown | Pink to pink brown | Light to dark red | Brown, chocolate, mottled or streaky | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Mechanical Properties
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Modulus of Rupture - Unseasoned:
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55 |
|---|---|
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Modulus of Rupture - Seasoned:
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85 |
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Modulus of Elasticity - Unseasoned:
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9 |
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Modulus of Elasticity - Seasoned:
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10.3 |
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Maximum Crushing Strength - Unseasoned:
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24.4 |
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Maximum Crushing Strength - Seasoned:
|
49 |
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Impact - Unseasoned:
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Impact - Seasoned:
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Toughness - Unseasoned:
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|
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Toughness - Seasoned:
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|
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Hardness - Unseasoned:
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2.9 |
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Hardness - Seasoned:
|
4.2 |
Durability
| Low | Moderate | Reasonably High | High | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (0 - 5 yrs) | (5 - 15 yrs) | (15 - 25 yrs) | (more than 25 yrs) | |
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In-Ground:
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| (0 - 7 yrs) | (7 - 15 yrs) | (15 - 40 yrs) | (More than 40 yrs) | |
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Above ground:
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| (0 - 20 yrs, usually < 5) | (21 - 40 yrs) | (41 - 64 yrs) | (More than 60 yrs) | |
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Marine Borer Resistance:
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Lyctid Borer Susceptibility:
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Susceptible |
|---|---|
| Lyctid Borer Susceptibility - Other: | |
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Termite Resistance:
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Not Resistant |
Fire Properties
American cherry heartwood ranges in colour from rich dark red through to reddish brown. The colour darkens on exposure to UV light. In contrast, sapwood is creamy white that can be steamed to a darker colour. This premium timber has a fine, straight grain and smooth texture; it can contain naturally occurring brown pith flecks and small gum pockets, which are considered to enhance the timber's distinctiveness.
American cherry is a highly attractive timber used in furniture, flooring, doors, joinery and cabinetry, mouldings and veneered panels. It is also an excellent timber for use in the construction of musical instruments due to its colour and smooth finish.
NSW
