Brazilian Cherry Species Information

Top portion is finished with water-base urethane; bottom with oil-modified polyurethane.

Appearance
Color: Sapwood is gray-white; heartwood is salmon red to orange-brown when fresh, and becomes russet or reddish brown when seasoned; often marked with dark streaks.
Grain: Mostly interlocked; texture is medium to rather coarse.
Variations within species and grades: Moderate to high color variation.

Properties

Hardness (Janka): 2350; 82% harder than Northern red oak.
Dimensional Stability: Average (change coefficient .00300; 19% more stable than red oak). However, actual installations have demonstrated significant movement in use.
Durability: Dense and very strong.

Workability
Sawing/Machining: Sawing is difficult due to high density; requires frequent resharpening of tools. Planing is difficult due to interlocked grain. Can be machined to a smooth surface. Carbide tooling recommended.
Sanding: Sands well.
Nailing: Good holding ability, but due to hardness may require adjustment of angle of penetration and/or height.
Finishing: No known problems.
Comments: Light-sensitive; darkens rapidly upon exposure to sunlight.