Jerry wrote:
I'm in San Diego and the cost of cherry seems to range from $8.90 bf to
$9.20. A sheet of 3/4" cherry ply is $135.00. I just bought a 1/4
sheet of 1/4" cherry for $27.

I also noticed that African Mahogany from the same supplier looks to be
$7.50 or there about per bf.

Why would domestic cherry be that much more expensive than imported
mahogany?

Do these prices seem high?

I'm redoing a couple bathrooms (in cherry) and am building new
doors/drawers. It would be cheaper (but not as much fun) to buy
pre-built, unfinished cherry doors and drawer fronts from commercial
suppliers than to build?


Jerry:

Over the last 3-5 years, the price for cherry (everywhere) has increased
dramatically. There are at least two major reasons for the increase.

First, there was severe, if not complete, reduction of logging of cherry
from the Allegheny National Forest in PA due to the work of
conservationalists. Not sure if there was a specific endangered species,
or just an across-the-board environmental concern. Reference:

http://www.alleghenydefense.org/pres...se_020909.shtm

Secondly, and nearly simultaneously, the demand for cherry increased
dramatically as it became preferred hardwood for furniture and trim in
high-end houses. Witness some of the Hometime and This Old House
episodes where new trimwork in libraries, etc. is often cherry. This is
essentially a fad, just as was experienced by mahogany and walnut in the
20th century.

In Pittsburgh, the S4S rate for cherry is around $6/bf and rough is
about $4.50/bf. If you find a small mill, you can get deals as low as
$3/bf on rough. At these savings, you can justify a planer/jointer if
you do a lot of work with cherry.

These rates are *more* than mahogany and walnut, again because demand is
high and supply is low. In Pittsburgh, shipping isn't much of an issue.

I suspect if you're going to use a signficant amount of cherry, it may
make sense to have it shipped to you and optionally, buy it rough and
finish it yourself. One advantage of planing/jointing yourself is you
can take your nominal 4/4 cherry to 7/8" rather than what appears to be
the going rate of 3/4".

~Mark.