Cherry is chosen for its fine uniform texture. It has straight grain and is reddish-brown in color with the occasional appearance of gum spots. Cherry is moderately dense, stable, has good working properties and finishes to a glass-like smoothness. The heartwood is particularly durable and has good resistance to decay.
The sapwood of black walnut is nearly white, while the heartwood is light brown to dark, chocolate brown, often with a purplish cast and darker streaks. The wood is heavy, hard, and stiff and has high shock resistance.
The sapwood is white in color, but may have a slight red or creamy hue. The sapwood tends to be very wide. Typically the whitest and brightest Hard Maple grows in New England and Canada, with the southern and Appalachian Hard Maple having a more creamy color. The grain is straight, but can also be wavy or curly. Hard Maple has a very fine even texture.
