Turning Cherry

[Whaler]

I picked up some 8/4 cherry to turn some bottle stoppers that my ex boss ordered. His only request is that they have a nice warm color close to his cabinets.

I have never worked with cherry so any hints from those that have would be appreciated.

[Maax]

I haven't turned lots of cherry but have made band saw boxes with it. And the one thing I noticed right away was how easily it burns. Other than that I understand that its nice to turn and finish.

[don_hart]

Well I can speak from alot of experience but I have turned a bowl from cherry and it turned well.

[CrashResq]

Haven't chimed in in a while. I turn a lot of Oklahoma wild cherry (I can get it pretty cheap) and it's a wonderful wood to work with. It will burn easy when sawing, but it turns very nicely. It will also darken if placed in direct sunlight (kind of like purpleheart)

[kwgeorge]

Cherry is a favorite wood for the beginner woodturner as it is strait grained and easily machined. It is very forgiving with a bit of sanding and is a pleasure to turn. The heartwood is darker but to get the darkness you wish, you may want to apply a light coat of Cherry stain.

[SteveR]

quote:Originally posted by CrashResq

It will also darken if placed in direct sunlight (kind of like purpleheart)

I have never turned with it, but will try now with all of the ease of working comments. I have used it in flat work. Crash brings up a good point. Give it a suntan...it works pretty well. Cut off a small piece to experiment with and cover 1/2 of it with something that will not let sunlight to it. Then set it out for a day or two and take off the cover to see the difference. I think the more you leave it out the darker it gets, much like how cherry naturally darkens with age.
Steve

[RayintheUK]

Dick,

You'll love it - very nice to turn, kind on the tools, easy to finish.

Ray.

[Whaler]

I turned 4 pens after work today, beautiful wood to work with. I now need to go to my local stain manufacturer and have them brew me the color I want. Then I will tackle the bottle stoppers.

Kind of a nice warm feeling when the guy that laid you off because he couldn't afford you orders 5 pens and 3 stoppers. He didn't quite reach the quantity discount level but he will get the best that I can do.