I’ve often wondered if the two are different species. Seems the PA Cherry is a little lighter in coloration and the grain is more pronounced. I prefer the Ozark cherry as it seems to turn a darker red, with time and the grain is more subdued. I know my PA Cherry has more pull-out when turning it on a lathe. Knives have to be very sharp to prevent pull-out with it.
Jon, U know anything about this?
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
PlaneWood
Replies
Mike, the species is the same (Prunus serotina.) I'm sure variations in climate, soil type, rate of growth, etc probably all have some subtle impact on what the wood is like...but I think it's probably a micro environmental, rather than a regional, issue. ALSO, personally, I think the maturity of the tree is the single most important factor when it comes to top quality cherry.
Opinions vary on this subject...and I know Pennsylvania cherry has developed a special reputation for being especially nice...and some very nice stock also comes from The Ozarks. I've worked with both. In fact, over the years, I've bought cherry lumber from mills all over the country...but the nicest load I ever bought came from a small mill in Northern Wisconsin...so, I don't think geography is all that key.
I read an article in FWW about different ash. Black, green, ect..
The bottom line was if the tree was mature and grew in a slow old growth way.
There is no shortcut to getting those rings closer together and more uniform.
I think I did mention that in an old FWW article on ash. With ring-porous woods (like the ashes), slow growth typically yields less dense wood with more complex and interesting figure. For that reason, northern, slow grown, black ash is an especially nice cabinetwood...while the sapwood of more rapidly grown, second growth white ash from further south makes better axe handles, because it is stronger and denser.
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled