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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Cherry vs. Birch or Oak

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Expert: - 3/19/2009


Question
I am putting a bar down in my basement. I purchased American Woodmark Cherry cabinets that will be on the rear wall. The bar itself is being built. My options are Birch or Oak. I looked at Oak and with the grain, it seems significantly different than Cherry. I did some research on the web and a few things I read state that Birch is a "poor mans" cherry. I am aware that I will not be able to match the stain 100% but I want to make sure that the wood matches as close as possible. Any suggestions on either birch or oak?

Thanks!

Answer
Hi Adam, Oak looks nothing like Cherry, even if it's colored perfectly like it. It's grain structure and porosity are very different. Actually, Maple also makes a very convincing Cherry when stained with Dye stain and then a pigmented wiping stain, but Eastern Birch is also very similar. I have some chunks of Red birch drying under my lathe that are dead ringers for Cherry.But as with all wood, grain, figure, color, etc. can vary widely from species to species, and tree to tree. The most important thing to be aware of, is that the commercially made cabinets will have a finish on them that will be difficult to duplicate unless you have some serious finishing 'chops'....they can use up to 20 individual steps to get a "Cherry" finish on their cabinets,depending on the factory... involving several colorants, including both pigmented and Dye based stains...colored sealers and topcoats and then a furniture grade, sprayed on, catalyzed clear coat. To make new Birch look the same is a lot more involved than just a stain and some poly....regards- Greg

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Greg Scholl

Expertise

Questions on Woodworking, wood finishing and refinishing of all kinds, repairing furniture and wooden objects, Architectural details, Woodturning, carving, tool usage, product usage, some chemistry as it applies to woodworking and related interests,cabinet making and furniture construction/design, etc. I have experience with all manners of colorants, finishes, paints, stains, dyes, glazes, and coatings, wood species recognition and usage,tool recommendations, blade types and recommendation,techniques and methods for many Woodworking related issues, etc.

Experience

Fine furniture restorer and cabinet maker for over 30 years,serving high end Antique dealers, Interior designers, Collectors in the CT area. Consulting for area Painting/Decorating and Building contractors on non painting issues..(staining, wood prep.,clear finishing, floor restoration and architectural detail restoration and repair, etc.) Sold, built, serviced, setup Home, Industrial, and Commercial stationary woodworking tools for a major tool retailer in CT. for three years, sold hand and power tools , provided knowledge, parts replacement, service, and on site service, Trade show Demo, and training as well.

Publications
Published in Fine Woodworking Magazine (12/97), included on Fine Woodworkings first "Best of Fine Woodworking" CD-ROM (2002) ...("27 year compilation of expert know-how")

Education/Credentials
Art School at Silvermine Guild in Norwalk, CT., 9 year apprenticeship in a European run Cabinet and Restoration shop in CT., various classes on subjects having to do with the field. Seminars from major Tool manufacturers, Skil/Bosch, Delta, Powermatic, Ritter, Porter cable, Milwaukee, Dewalt/B&Decker, Performax.

Past/Present Clients
Many varied clients including work on Martha Stewarts' Westport, CT. show house, many fine Antique dealers and private collectors in and around Fairfield County and in Woodbury, CT. (the Antiques capital of CT.), Golden Age of Trucking Museum, Wilton Historical Society.

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