Cherry (Black)

Botanical name: Prunus serotina. Grows in: North America.

Color: Heartwood is light to dark reddish brown, lustrous; sapwood is light brown to pale with a light pinkish tone. Some flooring manufacturers steam lumber to bleed the darker heartwood color into the sapwood, resulting in a more uniform color. Color darkens dramatically when it expose to light.

Grain: Fine, elegant, frequently wavy, uniform texture. Distinctive flake pattern on true quartersawn surfaces. Texture is satiny, with some gum pockets.

Variations Within Species And Grades: Significant color variation between boards.

Hardness/Janka: Janka: 950; 26% softer than Northern red oak.
Dimensional Stability: Above average (7.1; 17% more stabel than Northern red oak)

Durability: Average.

Workability: Difficult to work with hand tools, but good machining qualities. It is good with sanding, nailing and stain.