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| Home Painting Skills and Basics Paperhanging Home Decorating Interior Decorating Wood Identification |
CherryCherry is a northern temperate genus with two timbers of special interest, European cherry, obtained through much of Europe and into Asia Minor, and American black cherry of the eastern United States. European cherry, though fairly common, is a tree of only modest size. American cherry is somewhat larger, reaching 30m in height with logs commonly 35 to 50cm in diameter.Cherry is a fine-textured, generally straight-grained wood, which is pale pinkishbrown when first cut but darkens on exposure, and after prolonged use can become almost mahoganyred. Its appearance is occasionally marred by gumstreaks and flecks. European cherry is marginally heavier than American and intermediate in weight between mahogany and walnut. Cherry needs care in drying as it tends to distort, but, once dry, is moderately stable in use. It has good strength for its weight though it is not particularly stiff. It saws easily and can be worked with both hand and ,machine tools to give an excellent finish. It is of uncertain durability, but is probably best not used in conditions favouring decay. Cherry is a decorative wood used for furniture and cabinetwork. European cherry is available in only limited quantities and tends to be used for special items of furniture. American cherry is more readily available and of commercial importance in the middle-Atlantic states. It is used for panelling, furniture, high-class joinery and as the backing blocks for electrotype plates. Extract from 'The International book of WOOD' curtesy Michael Beazley Publishers Limited 1979. |
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