How Cherry Wood Got its Name

Sometimes called Black Cherry or American Cherry, cherry wood is a popular species in woodworking because of its stability, straight close grains and fine texture. When freshly cut, the pith is a very light reddish-brown that eventually darkens to a nice golden brown. Durable and resistant to decay, cherry wood has an adequate strength-to-weight ratio, but because it is not as dense as some other domestic hardwoods, it works very well with machines. Hence, it’s most commonly used in furniture making and construction.

What makes it cherry though? It is believed that the darkening process that happens naturally with age can be sped up with direct exposure to sunlight. For this reason, cherry wood is often left untreated to showcase the natural color but also because staining can be difficult with the close grains.

We just got cherry wood back in stock from the mill! Call 816-892-3398 for more information or come by Schutte Lumber located at 3001 Southwest Blvd. in Kansas City.

Source: Wood Database
Photo via Wood Database