Brazilian Cherry

Origin:

Brazil and throughout continental tropical America as well as in parts of the Lesser Antilles.

Appearance:

The heartwood of Brazilian Cherry ranges from olive brown to blackish, though it can have lighter or darker striping that is sharply demarcated from the whitish or yellowish sapwood. Brazilian Cherry is a low-luster wood with an oily appearance, a fine-to-medium texture, and a grain that ranges from straight to very irregular.

Properties:

Along with its extreme hardness, strength, weight, density, and durability, Brazilian Cherry is also one of the most stable woods available. However, it is important to “over-dry” the wood in a kiln to avoid excessive shrinkage when installing.

Janka Hardness: 3684

As a flooring option, Brazilian Cherry is an incredibly hard and durable wood species. It is over ninety-one percent harder than merbau, is roughly one hundred and twenty-six percent harder than wenge, and over two thirds harder than santos mahogany’s ranking of 2200.

Workability:

Brazilian Cherry is moderately difficult to work, given its hardness, especially with hand tools, and it has a blunting effect on most cutting edges. Pre-drilling is required when nailing the wood.

Principal Uses:

Brazilian Cherry is ideal for wood flooring where durability and high shock resistance are needed, such as in industrial environments. It is also used in railroad cross-ties, heavy construction, tool handles, and decorative veneers.

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