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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Carving 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 Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Tilia vulgaris Trade Name European lime Family Name Malvaceae Common Names European lime, Linden, Tilleul Regions of Distribution Eastern Europe, Western Europe Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Sweden, United Kingdom Common Uses Bobbins, Broom handles, Brush backs & handles, Carvings, Clogs, Cutting surfaces, Decorative veneer, Hatracks, Musical instruments , Piano keys, Sounding boards, Toys, Turnery, Veneer, Wooden shoes Environmental Profile Vulnerable Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Reported to grow throughout Europe and the United Kingdom. It is very common in Russia, Germany, and England. Heartwood Color Black Brown White to cream Pale yellow Pale brown The wood is initially pale yellow or uniform white in color. It ages to a pale brown color after prolonged exposure Sapwood Color Brown Red Not always distinct from the heartwood Grain Even Straight Straight Wood is described as rather figureless. It is similar in appearance to Poplar (Populus ) and Willow (Salix ) Texture Fine Close Uniform Fine Luster High Natural Durability Resistant to marine borers Resistant to termites Sapwood is readily attacked by the common furniture beetle Heartwood has very low resistance to decay Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules Schedule H (4/4) United Kingdom Drying Defects Checking Distortion Ripped or resawn boards may distort considerably if material contains compression wood Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Somehat prone to degrade Dry slowly and carefully to minimize degrade Air dries fairly rapidly Radial = 5.0% Shrinkage from green to 12% MC Tangential = 7.5% Tree Size Bole length is 0-10 m Bole length is 10-20 m Forest trees are reported to produce boles that may be up to 50 feet (15 m) long, but trees growing in the open tend to branch at a shorter distance from the ground Product Sources European lime is available in very limited quantities on the European market, and is usually priced in the inexpensive range. Substitutes European lime is considered as an alternative to Alder (Alnus ) in the hat block industry. Basswood (Tilia american) is similar in appearance, texture and grain. Blunting Effect Slight dulling effect on cutting tools Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Responds well to boring operations The timber works well in boring, mortising, and other operations, but sharp cutting edges are required for the best results Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good results European lime is well suited for carving since has high resistance to splitting when cut in any direction Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Moderate to saw Satisfactory sawing properties Although the wood tends to be woolly, cross-cutting and narrow band sawing are satisfactory Gluing Responds well to gluing Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly easy to mould Worked surfaces may be fuzzy unless proper cutting angles and sharp, thin edged tools are used Movement in Service Medium Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Satisfactory nailing properties Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Special attention required Good planing properties The timber is soft and tends to be woolly. A reduced cutting angle and sharp, thin edged cutters are recommended for best results Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Responds well to preservative treatment Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Slight dulling effect on cutting edges Responds well to hand tools Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Screwing Pre-boring recommended Turning Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good results European lime responds well to turning, especially if sharp cutters are used Veneering Qualities Selected European lime logs are sliced into veneers for decorative applications. Plywood resistance to weathering effects upon exposure is good Steam Bending Moderate The timber is suitable for bends of moderate radius. Steam bending qualities are rated as moderate and cannot be improved to any degree with supports and straps Polishing Satisfactory results Staining Finishes well but material with interlocked grain may pick up in planing The timber responds well to most finishes. Strength Properties Hardness = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Strength properties are rated as medium in bending and crushing, and low in stiffness and resistance to shock loads. Hardness and weigth are rated as medium, and density is high. The wood does not taint food, and is a popular choice for butcher blocks. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7355 12382 psi Density 33 lbs/ft3 Hardness 696 lbs Impact Strength 24 29 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3556 6501 psi Shearing Strength 1380 psi Stiffness 1395 1698 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 10 17 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.52 Weight 38 33 lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 517 870 kg/cm2 Density 528 kg/m3 Hardness 315 kg Impact Strength 60 73 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 250 457 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 97 kg/cm2 Stiffness 98 119 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.70 1.19 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.52 References British Woodworking Federation. 1995. Which Wood . Published by the British Woodworking Federation, Broadway House, Tothill Street, London. 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. Lavers, G.M. 1967. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50 (Spersedes Bulletin No. 45). Ministry of Technology, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc. Fresno, California. Patterson, D. 1988. Commercial Timbers of the World. Fifth Edition. Gower Technical Press, Aldershot, UK. ix + 339 pp. Titmuss, F.H. 1965. Commercial Timbers of the World. Third Edition (Enlarged of A ConRussiae Encyclopedia of World Timbers). The Technical Press Ltd., London.