   
European beech (Fagus sylvatica)
Family: Fagaceae
Common names: Carpathian beech, Common beech, Danish beech, English beech, European beech, Fayard, French beech, Japanese beech, Rod bok, Romanian beech, Rumanian beech, Slavonian beech, Varlig bok, Yugoslavian beech
Distributed in: Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, United Kingdom, Yugoslavia (Eastern Europe, Oceania and S.E. Asia, Western Europe)
Distribution overview: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden. Does well on chalky limestone hills, but also on most fertile light soils with good drainage.
Common uses: Boat building (general), Boat building: framing, Bobbins, Brush backs & handles, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Cooperages, Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Desks, Domestic flooring, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Food containers, Furniture , Furniture, Handles: general, Handles: woodworking tools, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Musical instruments , Musical instruments, Musical instruments: piano, Paneling, Piling, Plywood, Railroad ties, Shade rollers, Sporting Goods, Textile equipment, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Workbenches
Product sources: The timber is consumed more than any other hardwood in the United Kingdom. It is considered to be among the best known and most useful commercial timbers in the world, and is always in demand. European beech is available in long lengths, wide boards, and in the form of veneers, and is in the same price class as the lower cost hardwoods.
Environment profile: Generally secure within its natural habitat
Tree size: Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Colors: the heart isWhite to cream, Yellow to golden-yellow to orangeand the sapwoodColor not distinct from heartwood
.The grain isWeak figure, the textureMediumand the lusterSlightly lustrous
Natural durability: Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles, Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Odor: No specific smell or taste
Kiln Schedules: UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5
Drying Defects: Moderate twist/warp, Slight surface checking
Ease of Drying: Thick Stock Requires Care
Tree Identification: Bole/stem form is straight
Comments: General finishing qualities are rated as good Varies considerably
Blunting Effect: Slight
Boring: Fairly easy to very easy
Harring is common during boring operations.
Carving: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Cutting Resistance: Easy to saw
Gluing: Very good properties
Mortising: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Moulding: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Movement in Service: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Nailing: Holds nails well, Pre-boring recommended
Planing: Satisfactory planing properties
Resistance to Impregnation: Sapwood is permeable
Resistance to Splitting: Excellent
Response to hand tools: Variable qualities
Routing recessing: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Sanding: Fair to Good Results
Veneering qualities: There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits, Veneers easily
Steam bending: Very good
Screwing: Possible if prebored, Screwing yields good results; Turning: Very Good to Excellent Results
Polishing: Very Good to Excellent; Staining: Stains very well;
- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
 |
 |
 |
 |
Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
|
0,65 |
|
Density |
|
721 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
661 |
1114 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
300 |
533 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
659 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
88 |
111 |
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
146 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
111 |
135 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
|
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
4 |
|
% |
Weight |
689 |
673 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
0,91 |
1,19 |
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
|
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
|
|
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | Item | Green | Dry | English | Bending Strength | 9413 | 15850 | psi | Density | | 45 | lbs/ft3 | Hardness | | 1453 | lbs | Impact Strength | 35 | 44 | inches | Maximum Crushing Strength | 4270 | 7593 | psi | Shearing Strength | | 2090 | psi | Stiffness | 1586 | 1932 | 1000 psi | Work to Maximum Load | 13 | 17 | inch-lbs/in3 | Specific Gravity | | 0.65 | | Weight | 43 | 42 | lbs/ft3 | Radial Shrinkage | 4 | | % | Tangential Shrinkage | 9 | | % | |
46-52 lbs/cu. ft. 0 Mor/Bending strength = medium 1 Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. 1 Max. crushing strength = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Medium Medium Large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Large Hardness (side grain) = soft Very high Small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = very small Low High High Fairly large 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
The bending strength qualities of this species in the air-dry condition is very high, far superior to those of Mahogany. Compression strength parallel to grain in the air-dry condition is high. Teak, White oak, and Hard maple have high crushing strength. It is fairly hard, resisting wear, denting, and marring fairly well. It is a heavy wood. The wood has high density.
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