Durability:
Non Durable

Workability:
Workable

Price Rating:
Medium

Material Grade:
Prime U/Stmd

Weight:
720 kg/m3

Typical Tree Height:
30m

Trunk Diameter:
1.2m

Length Ranges:
1.8-4.2m

Width Ranges:
100-250mm

Description:

European Beech

Ours is kiln dried Beech.  The sapwood is hard to differentiate from the heartwood. The colour varies from whitish to very pale brown, and may darken to a pale pinkish-brown. Typically steamed Beech differs from unsteamed due to the overall pink-red shade, it turns to a deeper reddish-brown with steaming. Sometimes the wood has a dark red heart or darker veining. It has a straight grain with fine, even texture and a tiny short flecks that are uniquely characteristic with Beech. Quarter sawn, it may display an attractive broad ray figure on radial surfaces. Beech is fairly plain and consistent throughout and overall there are only subtle grain changes and character. A light coloured wood with multiple uses. Often used for door beads (internally), skirtings, door veneers, furniture and cabinet work. Typically found in office buildings as reception desks, screens etc.

At Wooduchoose we offer European Beech S/E, or Beech for most of our products. We recommend as; Beech skirting board, Beech architrave, Beech cover fillets, Beech mouldings. There are however many other products that this wood can be used for.

Further reading on Beech (Euro) timber: If you would like to read a full profile specification on Beech (Euro) timber, please visit our sister site, Any One wood, The online wood reference database. https://www.anyonewood.com/beech-euro/

Material Type:
Hardwood

Also Called:
English Beech, French Beech, Danish Beech, Romanian Beech.

Durability Notes:
Beech is non-durable and can be vulnerable to the common furniture beetle and the death-watch beetle plus Longhorn beetle can attack the sapwood.

Seasoning:
The drying and seasoning of Beech (Euro) is dependant on a number of factors; the speed in which it is processed after felling and logging, the method of drying and the specific kilns or location (if air dried). Generally the care taken by those processing the wood will have an impact on its drying and seasoning. As an overview; Beech (Euro) - It dries fairly quickly, but can warp, check, split and shrink. Care is needed in both air and kiln-drying. Please note that all wood is liable to move when in service plus there can be dimensional change. The extent of this will depend on; the stability of the species itself, the conditions it is exposed to, the coating, decoration and protection. You will find more information about the suitability of this wood, for any proposed application, by using our interactive system and the filters shown.

Properties:
Beech is very suitable for steam-bending and is often used for this. It has medium stiffness and high crushing strength. Beech has a tolerable blunting of cutters and tools. For nailing and screwing pre-drilling is necessary. Beech glues easily, stains and dyes well and takes an excellent finish. It is a very good wood for turning.

Typical Uses:
Solid and laminated furniture such as decks, benches and chairs (including bentwood furniture), quality joinery, kitchenware, tools, tool handles and workbenches, turnery, musical instruments, toys, bobbins, domestic flooring, decorative veneers and plywood.

Spiritual Properties:
The beech tree and its wood represent creativity, leadership and friendship.

Moisture Content:
12-18% KD

Wood Worker's Thoughts:
Nice to work with and finishes well. Grain tight and consistent although can be seen as uninteresting. Overall a very good light coloured hardwood.

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