Cherry Wood Markings - Features or Flaws?

18 years ago

Hi -

I'm hoping some wood expert(s) here will be able to provide their informed opinions. I don't know my wood terminology, but I will attempt adequately describe the situation. I recently bought a solid cherry table made in Kentucky in 1960. (The table has been taken very good care of and shows no sign of warpage or anything.) The wood of the table top is obviously from the same tree, in that near one end of the table and going across the width, there are a series of large, irregular "oyster" shapes (not round like a knot, but from some naturally-formed tree feature similar to a knot) that are darker than the surrounding wood on the outside and get much lighter than the surrounding wood at the center. As one would expect, the shapes get progressively smaller as they progress across the table, starting out about the size of a med-large man's hand and ending up the size of a small woman's hand. The top of the table is perfectly smooth--there are no pits or voids due to these shapes. Part of me thinks they're interesting, in that they are natural and you can really see that the table is part one unique tree, but part of me sees this as a flaw that I kind of wish wasn't there (even though I bought it anyway). Can someone tell me if these are considered desirable or "flaws"? (I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, etc., but would the fine woodworking crowd seek out this type of wood or avoid it?) Thanks!

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Comments (5)

mredwards
18 years ago
Not an expert at all but have learned a little about Cherry. Just bought a Home that was built in early 80's. My wife wasn't happy with the cabinet color. They were a dark, dark brown, kind of chocalate or mocha. After looking into it we discovered they were solid cherry faces and doors. Not paneled doors, but solid cherry wood. I disassembled all 23 doors and 12 drawers and took them to a hardwood supply company to have the stain sanded off. Chemical strippers didn't get the look we wanted. As we refinished them we came across the same thing you mentioned. Reddish to blonde wood colors in the same piece of wood. A reputible cabinet maker explained that this was the reason the cherry is usually stained, to get more of uniform look. We used clear polyurathane and couldn't be happier with the unique look of our new cabinets.

Don't know if this helped but this is what I know about cherry
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brickeyee
18 years ago
Sounds like normal variation within the wood.
Since it is not an actual knot or defect (hole, chip, rot spot, etc) it is not counted in grading.
It is neither desirable nor undesirable, just part of the natural wood that grows in a tree.
Few pieces of factory firniture have even consecutive sections form the same tree. Most are made of lower grade pieces that have been glued up to provide a more even grain structure.
Do a search on 'hardwood grading' and you will find out about 'clear face cuttings', the minimum sizes they need to be by grade, and the yield of clear face cuttings per board required to make grade.
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lindac
18 years ago
To me it would be very desirable....but I like hand made oriental rugs, primitave walnut furniture and loom woven fabrics.
Linda C
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Jon1270
18 years ago
...going across the width, there are a series...

...lighter than the surrounding wood at the center...

...progressively smaller as they progress across the table...

Is it just me, or does this not sound just like a whorl of sapwood and a rotatry-cut veneer? Are we sure this surface is really "solid" cherry, as in 'not a plywood top?'
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furnone
18 years ago
It sounds to me like sapwood, the outer part of the tree. The heartwood, or center of the tree, is much darker and more red. Look at the sapwood in the chair seat on this site. Is that similar to what you have?
Cherry aficionados desire this contrast. Some people, who don't understand the natural cause, don't appreciate it. The heartwood darkens considerably as it ages, faster if exposed to sunlight, and increases the contrast.

Here is a link that might be useful: sapwood cherry chair
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Cherry Wood Markings - Features or Flaws?

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