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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 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 Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Abrasion Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Carpinus betulus Trade Name European hornbeam Family Name Betulaceae Common Names Avenbok, Carpin, Carpy, Charme, European hornbeam, Haagbeuk, Hagbuche, Hagebuche, Hainbuche, Hardbeam, Hornbaum, Hornbeam, Pine, Quickbeam, Quickenbeam, Quicktree, Vitbok, Weissbuche, Yoke-elm Regions of Distribution Eastern Europe, Mediterranean Sea Region, Oceania and S.E. Asia, Western Europe Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Russia, France, Germany, Iran, Latvia, Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom Common Uses Bearings & bushings, Billiard-cue butts, Brush backs & handles, Decorative veneer, Domestic flooring, Drum sticks, Factory flooring, Figured veneer, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Fuelwood, Furniture, Joinery, Machinery parts, Musical instruments , Musical instruments, Musical instruments: percussion, Musical instruments: piano, Musical instruments: strings, Organ pipes, Parquet flooring, Piano keys, Pianos , Pulley sheaves, Sounding boards, Sporting Goods, Sub-flooring, Textile equipment, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Violin bows, Violin, Wheel spokes, Wheels, Xylophones Environmental Profile Generally secure within most of its natural habitat, but note exceptions. Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Abundant Vulnerable in parts of its natural habitat The species is currently considered secure and abundant in its natural habitat throughout most areas in its range including Denmark, Poland, Sweeden, Switzerland and Lithuania. Officially classified as Vulnerable in Latvia. Distribution Overview South East England, Thames Valley and locally South Wales and Somerset. Also temperate Europe and Asia Minor. Prefers low lying rich soils or clays and is shade tolerant. Can be coppiced or pollarded and is good for hedges. Heartwood Color Brown Red White Yellow Purple Orange White to cream Greenish to greyish Yellow to golden-yellow to orange With green streaks Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Not clearly differentiated from the heartwood. Grain Figure Interlocked Other (figure) Even Straight Irregular Growth rings (figure) Crossed Rays (figure) Rippled (figure) Stripe (figure) Interlocked Other figure Straight Striped figure Rippled figure Rays figure Irregular Crossed Clear growth rings (figure) False broad rays produce a flecked appearance on quartersawn surfaces. Texture Coarse Medium Fine Fine Even textured Luster Low Lustrous Natural Durability Non-durable Susceptible to insect attack Perishable Moderately durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Perishable Non durable Very little natural resistance Susceptible to attack by forest longhorn beetles Sapwood is vulnerable to attack by furniture beetles Sapwood is resistant to powder-post beetle attack Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately durable Sapwood is vulnerable to attack by common furniture beetle and Ptilinus pectinicornis, but resistant to powder post beetle Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 Schedule E - United Kingdom Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Checking Splitting Distortion Moderate end spitting Slight end splitting Moderate surface checking Little or no degrade Expect resin/gum exudation Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Slowly Moderately Difficult to Difficult Easy Shrinkage values from Green to 12% MC (Tangential) = 7% Shrinkage values from Green to 12% MC (Radial) = 5% Dries well with little degrade Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is fluted Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Product Sources The timber is commercially available from Europe, especially from France. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Blunting Effect High to severe Moderate Blunting effect on machining is moderate As with woods of similar density, timber has a moderate blunting effect on cutting tools. Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Satisfactory sawing properties Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Satisfactory results for cross-cutting and narrow bandsawing Gluing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moderate gluing properties Glues well Easy to glue Movement in Service Medium Not stable/prone to move Large Nailing Fair to Good Results Pre-Boring Recommended Very Good to Excellent Results Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Responds well to planing and other machining operations Planes well, to a good finish Resistance to Abrasion Highly resistant to wear Good for flooring Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Permeable heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is permeable Wood is easily treated Wood absorbs preservatives nicely, with adequate retention Resistance to Splitting Good Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Difficult to machine Moderate working qualities Variable qualities Screwing Pre-boring recommended Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Screwing yields good results Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good results Good results Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy Difficult to veneer Suitable for peeling Drying degrade is often moderate to severe, with collapse, buckles, and splilts Diifficult to veneer Steam Bending Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Very good Suitable for most types of bend, may tend to slightly discolor from treatment Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good results Staining Finish is generally good Stains well Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Tangential = large Max. crushing strength = high Toughness (total work) = medium Toughness (total work) = high Hardness (side grain) = medium Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Resists denting and marring Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Heavy Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = very high Bending strength (MOR) = high Bending strength in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content) is very high. Maximum crushing strength, or compression strength parallel to grain, is also high. The wood is fairly hard, resisting wear, denting, and marring fairly well. Weight is very high, and it has high density. Strength properties of European hornbeam are comparable to those of European beech, and the timber is considered a suitable alternative to Maple (Acer ) for light industrial flooring Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9552 16011 psi Density 46 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1631 lbs Impact Strength 49 50 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 4065 7320 psi Shearing Strength 2204 psi Stiffness 1468 1755 1000 psi Toughness 311 inch-lbs Work to Maximum Load 16 17 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.53 0.61 Weight 44 44 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % Tangential Shrinkage 10 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 671 1125 kg/cm2 Density 737 kg/m3 Hardness 739 kg Impact Strength