On 29 Mar 2005 06:58:46 -0800, "Charlie Self"
wrote:

Doug Miller notes:
the sapwood is indeed white, or nearly so, when it's fresh, and it
*does* darken over time. But to say that it becomes "almost as dark as
the
heartwood" is a bit of an exaggeration. I have a cherry bookcase built
almost
18 years ago on which the sapwood on the sides is still clearly
visible.

Yes. And I discovered not too long ago that cherry from different areas
is a different color. Recently, I gave a friend some 10/4 cherry to use
as feet on quilt racks. He built most of the rest out of 4/4
Pennsylvania cherry. The Pennsy cherry was substantially darker than
our Virginia cherry. Both woods were freshly machined. Something to do
with soil content, I guess.


I've seen the same thing, Charlie.

It goes even deeper than that.

When I wanted to do a project that was going to use a bunch of cherry,
like a library, or a wainscot job - I'd try to buy "In the bole", so
that my range of color and figure was restricted.

I usuallly ordered twenty percent more than the job called for, rather
than the usual ten, because I would not be within my range, even
though the cherry may have come from the same logger, cut at the same
time, if I had to buy more.

A paradoxical, though useful side of this is that, when doing a
signature piece, like the highboy that I am drawing now, you can, by
careful selection, have a cherry piece with elements that will pop
out.

My frames and stiles for this project will be quartersawn light
complecxioned cherry and from the bole. My feature pieces on the
flatwork (Door and drawer faces), will come from a darker and more
figured bole.

The carved and turned pieces will come from individual slabs, selected
for figure and color that will contrast with the others.

When I'm done, if I do it right, I'll have a piece that is all cherry,
but will have degrees of figure and color appropriate to the use.

I'll have to buy about two hundred and fifty percent of the net wood
needed, but this will allow me to use the sapwood for interior pieces,
that would otherwise have been poplar or maple.

The good news is that the rough cherry will cost about $4.00 a board
foot, bought in this quantity - excepting the figured stock.

I hope it works.


(watson - who is still agonizing over the choice between ball and
claw, and bracket feet.)


Tom Watson - WoodDorker
tjwatson1ATcomcastDOTnet (email)
http://home.comcast.net/~tjwatson1/ (website)