How to Use Cherry Wood in Furniture Making

Furniture made from cherry wood has a dark, rich finish and interesting grain that make cherry wood furniture attractive to furniture buyers. Cherry wood looks beautiful once cut, sanded and finished, making cherry appealing to woodworkers as well. However, cherry can present some unique challenges when it comes to selecting individual pieces of lumber and choosing a stain.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. Think carefully about what you intend to make with your cherry wood. Some people have allergies to compounds in cherry wood, so you should consider carefully before making cherry wood into furniture for small children or into objects used to hold food.

2. Choose individual cherry boards carefully. The quality of the board in large part determines the final finish of your piece of furniture. Take into consideration the texture and porosity of the board as well as its overall appearance.

3. Feel free to use machines to shape cherry wood. The wood produces only normal wear on tools. However, it burns somewhat easily, so use carbide bits and avoid stopping the router directly on the wood.

4. Sand carefully. Cherry sands well, but scratches show up easily, so you must prepare the board well.

5. Take care when joining and planing to watch the direction of the feed. Sand with the grain of the wood to avoid unsightly marks.

6. Use a fairly light, simple product to finish your piece. Cherry develops its own dark patina over time, so there's no need to overwhelm it with a heavy stain. Stay away from varnishes with UV blockers that can retard the development of the patina.