cherry wood (Emgland)

[Dr Syn]

Hi all, I have collected four different cherry tree branches and have now sliced them up BUT only one looks like the orange colour that I expected - A in the picture.
The others - B is brownish, C is white, and D is more yellow..
Can anyone shed a nit of light on this, I assume there must be different species of cherry, e.g. fruit and ornamental.
Thanks
Mick

 

[Uwek]

when to take a look at a plank of Cherry wood you can see that there are sometimes very hard differences in the the colour, but also the grain

I took fastly some screenshots to make it clear what I mean





more extreme are differences f.e. at walnut

 

[Dr Syn]

Ah, that could explain it then, although these are from 4 different trees, each branch could have a different colour then?
The small branches (7" dia) that I have, they are the same colour right through, maybe they get the colour as they grow.

 

[Y.T.]

I would not be surprised if different colour of wood from same branch have different mechanical properties. Could someone please clarify?

 

[Alan Smith]

What you can see is the difference between heartwood and sapwood. The heartwood forms and darkens naturally as the tree grows, This is part of the support structure that keeps the tree standing up straight. In many ways this pinky-brown stuff is no longer fully alive. The paler creamy-white sapwood between bark and heartwoods the really 'alive' part and will also darken from the inside out as the tree grows but for now it is busy creating new growth, transporting nutrients and water up from root to leaf and fuel (sugars) from the leaves downwards to the roots. Trees are not just made of wood, but of water and energy and electricity and life.

 

[Dr Syn]

Ah, but these are small branches of 7"dia or so, and the colour is the same all the way through. I've experimented by leaving bits in wet, dry, light and dark and they don't really change. I think I'll just use them for the colour I want at the time. They may well change after a year or so. We'll see.
Thanks

 

[AllanKP69]

Swiss pear seems to be more consistent and has a tighter grain so may be a good alternate choice. Brazilian rosewood (Massaranduba) is the deepest red I have found to be available but as it is oily and can be a problem with some glues. Gorilla brand polyurethane will work as will epoxy. Massaranduba is also grainy similar to cherry but the colors are gorgeous. For our small pieces it is usually not a problem to make a piece within a give section of color on a board of the rosewood.

Allan

 

[Roger Pellett]

This is an example of the American Cherry. It is approximately 50 years old. Here in the US we have a species of cherry known as Wild Cherry. It has small fruit about the size of currants. The trees can grow very large. I believe that this is what is commercially cut for lumber. As you can see, it is completely different from that in your photos.

Roger

 

[Alan Smith]

This is also rather lovely red to brown venner, easy to work with and to glue. Less brittle than rosewood too.

AFRICAN PADOUK WOOD VENEER

African Padauk, Barwood, Camwood, Crown Cut, Quarter Cut, African Padauk Wood Veneer,

www.woodveneer4u.co.uk

 

[Alan Smith]

Ah, but these are small branches of 7"dia or so, and the colour is the same all the way through. I've experimented by leaving bits in wet, dry, light and dark and they don't really change. I think I'll just use them for the colour I want at the time. They may well change after a year or so. We'll see.
Thanks

That is because they have not developed any heartwood yet. Trees do what they do in their own time, and if the branches you cut were in a vigorous growth phase that is no surprise. However, as you say, there is no problem using the timber. Time and seasoning will tell, but it is very unlikely to change colour dramatically.

 

[Dr Syn]

Thanks all, I'll use it all anyway over time but I'll make sure I keep them separate

 

[Sgt_Bill]

I buy cherry slabs and mill them all the time. C = sapwood. It is closest to the bark and what you see is what you get. The darker is heartwood and they can vary. Over time (weeks to months) fresh cut the heartwood will darken. Give B and D some time. There are several a few different species of cherry suitable for woodworking. Other causes for variations. Cherry is a reasonably priced hardwood.

 

[Recusant]

Hi all, I have collected four different cherry tree branches and have now sliced them up BUT only one looks like the orange colour that I expected - A in the picture.
The others - B is brownish, C is white, and D is more yellow..
Can anyone shed a nit of light on this, I assume there must be different species of cherry, e.g. fruit and ornamental.
Thanks
Mi

The cherry wood, both sap and heartwood, that I've worked with all get darker as time goes by. If you want a real dark cherry wood, put a little lemon juice in water and brush it on before you varnish. (Let it fry thoroughly first, of course!)

 

[MikeC]

Some varieties of cherry darken after being sawed and finished — maybe all do.

 

[Van]

Some varieties of cherry darken after being sawed and finished — maybe all do.

Most cherry sold in America will darken nicely over time. BUT exposed to sunlight it can bleach a lot. You may not want to display your model where direct sunlight will reach it (in front of a window).