working with black cherry

[eseabee1]

I was wondering if any one has used black cherry for a stock.I back home this evening got in my late grandmothers barn and found some black cherry hard to say how long it has been there my uncle told me to take it so now I have one piece that is about 5inches thick and around 7ft long and I say its about 12 inches wide the other pieces I gave to my Dad who does wood working they were alot smaller.. do you all think it would be good to work with or not

[Mike Brooks]

Cherry is good.

[cgm]

Cherry wood is easier to work and more stable than curly maple.

It also is one of the more used woods in New England guns and more than a few Southern Mountain rifles.

Staining is a breeze - you don't need too.  Just let time darken it.

Clayton

[erdillonjr]

Black cherry is a wonderfull wood to work with. Ed

[Gregory]

Another plus,  Cherry takes a lye wash like maple does AF.  With out the heat.

Ages it about 50 years in 50 seconds.

Greg

[Stophel]

I have a gun started with a wavy figured cherry stock...I need to finish it.  Reasonable hardness, about like good walnut.  I have another plain cherry blank that is as hard as sugar maple.   I also have one that is soft as butter, light and not so good.  Cherry varies widely in quality.

Here's an old Massachusetts rifle stocked in cherry.
www.photobucket.com/albums/v326/Fatdutchman/Original%20Flintlocks/Massachusetts

[eseabee1]

hey thanks alot that answered my question guess I will try it after I get my bench made

[Roger Fisher]

If that 5 inch thick plank is straight could you have it run through a band saw and end up doubly blessed with 2 7ft planks each being over 2 1/4 thick which is thick enough for most stocks except the widest ones 

[rick landes]

My granddad gave me some black cherry many years ago. Beautiful grain, harder than a cat's head. Check the materials carefully before taking a blank cut as aged cherry can have some worm holing. This is fixable; just be advised of it.

I like the finish with just a heated wax. Not great for a gun, I just like the nature color.

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

Test some pieces with lye and see what you think! I think it adds a lot to the color and ages it too. try lots of different concentrations.