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Blunting Effect Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Salix alba Trade Name Willow Family Name Salicaceae Common Names Black willow, Common willow, Cricket bat willow, Dudley willow, Goodding willow, Huntingdon willow, Pil, Sauce, Saule, Sauz, Southwestern black willow, Swamp willow, Vitpil, Weide, Western black willow, White willow, Wilg, Willow Regions of Distribution Africa, Eastern Europe, Mediterranean Sea Region, Oceania and S.E. Asia, Western Europe Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Switzerland, United Kingdom Common Uses Artificial limbs, Baskets, Bearings & bushings, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Casks, Charcoal, Cooperages, Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Figured veneer, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Interior construction, Marquetry, Packing cases, Paneling , Pulp/Paper products, Sporting Goods, Toys, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Wainscotting Environmental Profile Generally secure within most of its natural habitat, but note exceptions. Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Abundant Natural habitat includes Switzerland, but it currently classified as Endangered in the wild in Malta Distribution Overview Native to Europe, northern Africa, and central Asia, but is naturalized in southeastern Canada and eastern United States. The tree usually grows near cities in wet soils of stream banks and valleys. Heartwood Color White Pale red to pink White to cream White pinkish Sapwood Color White to yellow Whitish Grain Straight Even Texture Fine Even textured Natural Durability Non-resistant to termites Susceptible to insect attack Perishable Non durable Very durable The heartwood has very little natural resistance to decay and is susceptible to attack by insects. The sapwood is vulnerable to attack by the powder-post and common furniture beetles. Trees and logs are vulnerable to attack by forest longhorn or Buprestid beetle. Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast UK=H US=T10D4S/T8D3S Fr=7 UK=H Drying Defects Water pockets Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Easy Moisture content should be monitored to insure uniformity Moderate Dries fairly quickly with minimum degrade Tree Size Some trees are grown for cricket bats and these are harvested when they attain a diameter of about 18 inches (50 cm). Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Slight bluting effect on cutting tools Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Easy, especially when cutters are kept very sharp Carving The operation requires sharp cutting edges for best results Good results Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Low resistance Cutting tools should be kept very sharp to prevent woolly surfaces Gluing Easy to glue Excellent gluing properties Mortising To prevent rough surfaces, sharp cutting edges are required in most machining operations, including mortising Moulding The timber responds well to ordinary tools in moulding operations, with very good results Movement in Service Holds its place well in use Dimensionally stable Nailing Good nailing properties Planing Requires sharp cutting edges to prevent fuzzy surfaces Reduced cutting angles recommended Planes and works well with ordinary machine tools Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is resistant Heartwood is highly resistant Sapwood is treatable Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Response to hand tools, with sharp cutting edges, is very good. Routing & Recessing The material responds readily to sharp cutting edges to yield good results in routing operations Sanding Good characteristics Screwing Good screwing properties Turning Sharp cutting edges necessary to prevent woolly surfaces Easy to turn Veneering Qualities No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Easy to cut Steam Bending Poor Polishing Satisfactory results High finish Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Toughness (total work) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Bending strength (MOR) = very low Weight and density are about average Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = medium Toughness (total work) = low Surfaces may dent easily Hardness (side grain) = soft Bending strength (MOR) = medium Air-Dried condition about 12% moisture content Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 4643 8153 psi Density 25 lbs/ft3 Hardness 568 lbs Impact Strength 37 31 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 2036 3898 psi Shearing Strength 1138 psi Stiffness 952 1125 1000 psi Toughness 222 inch-lbs Work to Maximum Load 8 12 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.34 0.38 Weight 25 25 lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 326 573 kg/cm2 Density 400 kg/m3 Hardness 257 kg Impact Strength 93 78 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 143 274 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 80 kg/cm2 Stiffness 66 79 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 255 cm-kg Work to Maximum Load 0.56 0.84 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.34 0.38 References Armstrong, F.H.,1960,The Strength Properties of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, London Bulletin,No.45 Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1937,A Handbook of Home-Grown Timbers,HMSO HMSO. 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R. H. Farmer, Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting Lavers, G.M. 1966. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50. Ministry of Technology, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. Lavers, G.M.,1983,The Strength Properties of Timber (3rd ed. revised Moore G.L.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Report (formerly Bulletin No.50) Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California. Little, E.L. 1980. The Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Western Region. Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York. Redding, L.W.,1971,Resistance of Timbers to Impregnation with Creosote,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Bulletin No.54 pp.43 Scott, M.H.,1953,Utilisation Notes on South African Timbers,South African Forestry Department Bulletin No.36 Smith, D.N.,1959,The Natural Durability of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Record,No.30 T.D.A.,1942,Timber Leaflet - No.67 Willow,TRADA Timber Leaflet T.R.A.D.A.,1942,Home-grown timber trees - their characteristics, cultivation and Uses,TRADA WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing: Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center (WCMC, Plants Program, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.