Replies

1. 
   chris_gleason | Mar 05, 2002 04:49am | #1

   *
   Hi Alan-

   I enjoy using Brazilian cherry, although I haven't used a ton of it. It is very dense and therefore heavy, much more so than cherry, but that is probably fine for something like a bed that you don't really move around once it is assembled. It may tend to splinter a bit more than some other woods, but I haven't had much of a problem with tearout. Just make sure your knives & blades are sharp and you should do fine.

   Although it isn't NEARLY as tough on the lungs as padauk (with the awful dust it produces), I do still feel better wearing a respirator while machining Brazilian cherry. It is probably wrong to assume that all the South American hardwoods contain nasty compounds due to the fact that some do, but even still, I usually take extra care when working with them. Brazilian cherry isn't (in my experience) oily enough to require different adhesives (I use polyurethane glue for the really oily ones), Titebond II or the equivalent is probably fine.

   Good luck, and be sure to post photos of the bed in the gallery once its done (or while in progress!)

   Chris Gleason
   Gleason Tableworks
   http://www.interestingfurniture.com

1. 
   Mike_Taylor1 | Mar 05, 2002 04:59am | #2

   *Alan - I have used Brazilian Cherry (Jatoba) and love it! Very hard and dense. I use clear 12-hour epoxy. A DC and a breathing mask is highly suggested. Have never tried Poly or PVA glue with it. 150 bf? Man, that's going to be one heavy bed!

1. 
   Jon_Arno | Mar 05, 2002 02:31pm | #3

   *Alan, as Chris and Mike suggest, Brazilian cherry contains some pretty potent extractives. This species; Hymenaea courbaril, is also marketed as jatoba or courbaril, which are better common names, since it is not related to cherry. While its reddish color is similar to cherry, it is actually a member of the legume family and more closely related to the rosewoods. The tree produces a gum (a form of copal) once used in making varnish. Oddly enough, the fruit of this species yields an edible pulp, but the wood contains a couple of quinones that can cause skin irritation. It's been a popular cabinet wood in Europe for many years and not so toxic that it can't be safely handled, but you do definitely want to be careful with it until you determine just how sensitive you personally are to its chemistry.

1. 
   Alan_moran | Mar 14, 2002 02:26am | #4

   *Thanks for all the info. I'll be sure to take it into consideration. Cherry is still my fist choice but the Brazilian cherry is growing on me, especially where price is concerned.P.S The Hardwood Store of North Carolina, Gibsonville is where I get my supplies.

1. 
   BillC_ | Mar 14, 2002 08:17pm | #5

   *Alan,It might be worth taking a look at lakeshorehardwoods.com. I have been using them for years and they have some of the best quality cherry, excellent prices and they will ship anywhere.Bill