Black Cherry (Burl/Raw Log)
Prunus serotina · Hardwood
- Type
- Hardwood
- Origin
- Eastern North America
- Hardness
- 950 lbf (Medium)
- Durability
- Slightly Durable to Moderately Durable; heartwood is moderately decay-resistant, but sapwood and weathered exterior sections decay rapidly.
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Grain Pattern
Highly irregular, distorted, and wild grain pattern associated with a tree burl and decayed root section, featuring potential swirl and cluster figure.
Color & Appearance
Exposed interior heartwood shows light reddish-brown tone; heavily weathered bark and decayed exterior exhibit light gray, silvery, and dark brown tones with visible lichens.
Hardness (Janka)
950 lbf (Medium)
Durability & Decay Resistance
Slightly Durable to Moderately Durable; heartwood is moderately decay-resistant, but sapwood and weathered exterior sections decay rapidly.
Value & Sustainability
- Estimated Market Value
- $10.00 to $20.00 per board foot equivalent (highly variable depending on usable figure and sound wood content inside the burl).
- Wood Age Estimate
- Tree was likely several decades old; the log section shows severe weathering and decay indicative of lying outdoors for 2 to 5+ years.
- Sustainability Status
- Least Concern (IUCN); widely available across native range, non-CITES listed.
Common Uses
Woodturning (bowls, hollow forms), specialty live-edge sculptures, knife handles, custom furniture accents, and decorative crafts.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Workability
Difficult in raw/weathered form due to inclusions, dirt, decay, and highly irregular grain; requires sharp carbide tools to prevent tearout and edge dulling.
Finish Recommendations
Deeply penetrating stabilization resins (like Cactus Juice) for soft areas, followed by wipe-on polyurethane or tung oil finish to highlight figure.
Notable Features
Features dense, gnarly burl growth with severe bark inclusions, fungal staining, and weathered natural edge textures.
