Unusual dotted patterns on cherry lumber

[jeffrey bailey]

I am currently making a cradle from some cherry lumber that was given to me. The lumber was cut by an amateur and air dried. It has a little figure in the grain. What I am finding unusual are dotted patterns in the grain. The dots are light colored and can be seen easier from different directions and in different light. They are very prominent in sunlight. I know what pitch pockets are and this lumber has some of those too. These dotted patterns aren't pitch. Any idea what these patterns are? Figure, maybe?

[Chris Padilla]

Sounds like figure...chatoyance perhaps? Try taking some pictures if you can.

[jeffrey bailey]

It looks like this
http://www.quarter-sawnflooring.com/images/curly-cherry-small.jpg (http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=Cf-UR2N5ezmE-M&tbnid=gs0AQDuBPLmEtM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.quarter-sawnflooring.com%2Fchatoyance.html&ei=y5ypU9_aL-LJsQS6h4GoBA&bvm=bv.69620078,d.cWc&psig=AFQjCNELPZ5QmGdsZ0HuXorfc07P8alPEA&ust=1403711039901769)

[Jamie Buxton]

It looks like this
http://www.quarter-sawnflooring.com/images/curly-cherry-small.jpg (http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=Cf-UR2N5ezmE-M&tbnid=gs0AQDuBPLmEtM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.quarter-sawnflooring.com%2Fchatoyance.html&ei=y5ypU9_aL-LJsQS6h4GoBA&bvm=bv.69620078,d.cWc&psig=AFQjCNELPZ5QmGdsZ0HuXorfc07P8alPEA&ust=1403711039901769)

That stuff is medullary rays. They are thin structures in the tree which run radially in the trunk. They're usually visible only in quartersawn lumber. In most species, the rays are microscopic. In some, they are very big -- for instance lacewood, sycamore, and white oak. In some they're medium small -- for instance cherry and maple.

[Shawn Pixley]

It looks like this
http://www.quarter-sawnflooring.com/images/curly-cherry-small.jpg (http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=Cf-UR2N5ezmE-M&tbnid=gs0AQDuBPLmEtM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.quarter-sawnflooring.com%2Fchatoyance.html&ei=y5ypU9_aL-LJsQS6h4GoBA&bvm=bv.69620078,d.cWc&psig=AFQjCNELPZ5QmGdsZ0HuXorfc07P8alPEA&ust=1403711039901769)

This is a horrible problem and you are risking life and limb with this mutation. It will take a specialist who is certified to dispose of this properly. Luckily I am trained in this work. Please send it to me and I will ensure your safety...

[Bob Kinsman]

Fix by applying wash coat of shellac, oil liberally, let stand, wipe dry, chase with another round of shellac, and polish with your choice of wax . . .

Not much wrong with getting a bit of ray fleck, just need to pick your pieces carefully if for glue-up or panel matching.

[lowell holmes]

I don't think Shawn can dispose it properly.

For safeties sake, you should send it to me for proper disposal.:)

[Jim Sevey]

That's beautiful! One lucky baby.

[Dave Zellers]

That board needs a veneer cutting bandsaw, STAT!

[Shane Copps]

+1 on Dave's post. Unless you don't think Shawn or Lowell can dispose of it- then I would gladly risk my health to dispose of it for you :-)

[Rick Potter]

This is a stealth gloat, right?

RP

[Jim Matthews]

I will gladly trade you 1:1 for some straight grained Poplar, ready to paint.

Where shall I meet you?

[jeffrey bailey]

Sorry, not a gloat and I won't be sending it to anyone. It was a pain trying to match up the boards for the end panels on the "basket" of the cradle but I did get that done. Looks like the support structure will have some of this figure on it though. While planing the rest of the boards yesterday, I also noticed some curl so I think it will be a nice looking piece when I get it finished.

[jeffrey bailey]

Here is what the cradle ended up looking like.

293999294000

[glenn bradley]

That came out very nice. One lucky baby.

[Chris Padilla]

Very nice cradle!

[Keith Weber]

This reminds me of when I was visiting a friend in Florida many years ago. They had just bought a bed set, and were angry about it's condition when it arrived. Apparently it had all of these defects in the wood, and they were ready to call the company back to complain that it was defective and demand a refund or replacement. When they arrived, they said, "Keith, you're a woodworker..." and told me the story. They wanted me to look at the bed/bedside tables and let them know what I thought.

They took me into the bedroom. What I saw was a really nice white oak bed set with a medium dark stain. The defects were the ray fleck from some of the wood being quartersawn. It wasn't completely quarter sawn, but there was enough of it that it gave it a look, and it was fairly evenly dispersed throughout the pieces. "Cool!", was my response. They looked confused. I explained to them what it was, how it was normal, and how you would normally have to pay a nice premium to get that effect in a piece of furniture. I'm a big fan of QS white oak, and not at all a fan of flat-sawn oak. When they saw that I really liked their bed set and thought that they made a nice score, the world was fine again. They were all of a sudden happy with their bed set. I still laugh about that -- how I made somebody love something that they hated just by saying the right words. LOL!