Does Wild Cherry Make Good Lumber

[Jim VanBramer]

I've got the option to pick up a whole bunch of what I would term wild cherry logs (since we don't have the type of cherry logs that grow back east out here in Seattle), but I have a few questions before I do that. Is anybody out there familiar with this type of wood? Does it make usable lumber, and does it darken with age like the 'other' cherry? I have a sawyer all lined up, but I want to make sure I'm not wasting my time and money. Thanks for your help.
Jim

[Scott Loven]

I would think that all cherry logs come from "wild" cherry trees.
Scott

[Jim VanBramer]

I would think that all cherry logs come from "wild" cherry trees.
Scott
They're a different species Scott ... I just don't know how they differ when it comes to making lumber out of them.

[Gary Breckenridge]

:cool: I would check the prices and quality of locally bought cherry. Then I would saw into a log by hand and plane and sand a small piece of heart wood. Next bake it in an oven at 350 for an hour. Then I would try 2 or 3 stains and finishes on it. At this point you will realize that you have a great deal. Careful drying of the wood is your next problem. Post pictures of the rough sawn stack of wood.:cool:

[Mark Rios]

Does Wild Cherry Make Good Lumber


I don't know about lumber but I hear she makes a good time.:rolleyes:

[Scott Loven]

From the forrest products lab WOOD handbook (Link at bottom)
Cherry, Black

Black cherry (Prunus serotina) is sometimes known as
cherry, wild black cherry, and wild cherry. It is the only
native species of the genus Prunus of commercial importance
for lumber production. Black cherry is found from southeastern
Canada throughout the eastern half of the United States.
Production is centered chiefly in the Middle Atlantic States.
The heartwood of black cherry varies from light to dark
reddish brown and has a distinctive luster. The nearly white
sapwood is narrow in old-growth trees and wider in secondgrowth
trees. The wood has a fairly uniform texture and very
good machining properties. It is moderately heavy, strong,
stiff, and moderately hard; it has high shock resistance and
moderately high shrinkage. Black cherry is very dimensionally
stable after drying.
Black cherry is used principally for furniture, fine veneer
panels, and architectural woodwork. Other uses include
burial caskets, wooden ware, novelties, patterns, and
paneling.
http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgtr/fplgtr113/fplgtr113.pdf

[Steve Clardy]

Good stuff. Beautiful. I have some stashed out for future use. Mine got a little warpy when it dried though.

[Tom Drake]

Very good wood. I love making cabinets out of it.

[Bob Weisner]

Could it be a Bing Cherry tree?

[Jim VanBramer]

I just found out that this is actually prunus avium, also known as European Cherry.

[Ian Abraham]

The European cherry doesn't have the same rich red colour that your 'black' cherry has.. apart from that it's very similar to work and finish. So yes, it's good timber, just not quite as pretty.

Cheers

Ian

[Peter Lyon]

Jim,

I've always heard the wild Cherry that grows in the PNW referred to as Choke Cherry. I believe its "technically" a bush, although by looking at it, one probably wouldn't call it that. I've seen it greater then 20" in diameter.

Milled up into lumber, it has a greenish cast to it and does not darken up very much -- at least not compared to east coast black cherry.

NW Wood in Puyallup typically has a fair amount available for sale.

[Dan Forman]

This link describes it as having reddish brown wood. http://www.british-trees.com/guide/wildcherry.htm

This one says why its not such a good idea to chew on leaves or stems. http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/Prunuav.htm

Dan