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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 Comments Common Names Common Uses Corrosive Properties Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Castanea sativa Trade Name Sweet chestnut Family Name Fagaceae Common Names Akta kasanj, Chestnut, Edible chestnut, European chestnut, Spanish chestnut, Sweet chestnut Regions of Distribution Africa, Mediterranean Sea Region, North America, Oceania and S.E. Asia, Western Europe Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom, United States Common Uses Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Casks, Chairs, Coffins, Cooperages, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture, Handles: general, Joinery (external): ground contact, Lock gates, Paneling, Poles, Posts, Stakes, Turnery, Umbrella handles , Veneer, Walking sticks Environmental Profile The conservation status of this species within its natural habitat has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Castanea sativa is a Mediterranean species. The range of distribution extends from the Caspian to the Atlantic, including Madeira, Azores and Canary Islands, from 51º latitude in southwest Germany and south England, to 37º latitude in Tunisia (Mounts Tlecem). The species is found in north-facing slopes where the rainfall is greater than 600 mm, on moderately acid soils (pH 4.5-6.5) with a light texture. Chestnut needs high air humidity and avoids late frosts, sprouting very late. Heartwood Color Red Green/grey Brown Brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Dark brown Pale brown Yellowish brown Similar in appearance to Oak, but without the silver figure Sapwood Color Red Paler than heartwood Well defined White to yellow Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Straight Spiral Even Crossed Generally straight, but not always Spiral grain occasionally Grain is typically straight but may be spiral, especially in old trees. Quartersawn surfaces lack the silver grain figure of oak because of the absence of broad rays Texture Medium Fine Coarse Coarse Medium Medium to coarse Luster High Medium Slightly lustrous Natural Growth Defects Sweet chestnut is rarely cultivated for timber because old trees often develop serious cracks or ring shakes which makes it difficult to obtain wide boards from the timber Natural Durability Durable Very durable Resistant to termites Durable Very durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to wood staining fungal attack Moderately resistant to decay The sapwood is susceptible to attack by the common furniture beetle and powder-post beetle Odor No specific smell or taste Corrosive Properties Reacts with metals Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Severe collapse and honeycomb Moderate surface checking Moderate collapse and honeycombing Water pockets Honeycombing possible Collapse Degrade from collapse is generally difficult to correct with reconditioning Ease of Drying Difficult Moderate Expect severe degrade due to knots, splits, and loosening Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 0-10 m The tree is also grown to pole size on the coppice system in south-east England. Product Sources Limited quantities of European chestnut in the form of veneers are available on the European market at prices that are comparable to those of lower cost hardwoods. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good The wood is acidic and has a tendency to corrode iron and iron compounds under moist conditions. The wood may also develop blue-black iron stains for the same reason Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fairly easy to very easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Cross-Cutting and narrow bandsawing are satisfactory Gluing Easy to glue Moderate gluing properties Movement in Service Small Not stable/prone to move Nailing Holds nails well Pre-boring recommended Holds satisfactorily Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good planing properties Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is extremely resistant Heartwood is resistant Difficult to treat with preservatives Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Slight dulling effect on cutting edges Screwing Screwing yields good results Good screw holding properties Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor results Difficult to turn Veneering Qualities There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Easy to cut Steam Bending Good In its green state the wood can develop breaks on the inner surface especially where knots are present. Air-seasoned wood that is free of knots and other defects responds better to steam bending, but edges may wrinkle slightly Polishing Fair to Good Results Good results The wood polishes to yield an excellent finish Staining Reacts with Iron to discolour wood Finish is generally good Varnishing Good results The wood is reported to give an excellent finish with varnish. Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength = medium Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low Toughness (total work) = very low Toughness (total work) = low Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Max. crushing strength = low Crushing strength = medium Strength properties of Sweet chestnut are about half-way between those of Obeche (Triplochiton scleroxylon) and European beech (Fagus). Material has low resistance to to shock loads Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 6728 10355 psi Density 34 lbs/ft3 Hardness 676 lbs Impact Strength 25 23 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3683 6355 psi Shearing Strength 1551 psi Stiffness 1075 1248 1000 psi Toughness 130 inch-lbs Work to Maximum Load 7 8 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.5 Weight 33 32 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 473 728 kg/cm2 Density 544 kg/m3 Hardness 306 kg Impact Strength 63 58 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 258 446 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 109 kg/cm2 Stiffness 75 87 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 149 cm-kg Work to Maximum Load 0.49 0.56 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.5 Weight 528 512 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % References Armstrong, F.H.,1960,The Strength Properties of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, London Bulletin,No.45 British Woodworking Federation. 1995. Which Wood . Published by the British Woodworking Federation, Broadway House, Tothill Street, London. Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 6 Europe,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Clifford, N.,1953,Commercial Hardwoods - Their Characteristics Identification and,Utilization,Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons Ltd. London Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO Findlay, W.P.K.,1975,Timber: Properties and Uses,Crosby Lockwood Staples London,224PP Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1937,A Handbook of Home-Grown Timbers,HMSO Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1969,The Movement of Timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Technical Note,No.38 Forests Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1956,A Handbook of Hardwoods,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research Establishment 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. HMSO. 1985. Broadleaves. Forestry Commission Booklet No. 20. Text by H.E. Edlin. Revised by A.F. Mitchell. Forestry Commission, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. 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 Jackson, A. and D. Day. 1992. Good Wood Handbook - The Wood worker's Guide to Identifying, Selecting and Using the Right Wood. HarperCollins Publishers, London. Laidlaw, W.B.R. 1960. Guide to British Hardwoods. Published by Leonard Hill [Books] Limited, 9 Eden Street, N.W.1, London. Lavers, G.M. 1969. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50 (Second Edition, Metric Units). 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 Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc. Fresno, California. (Specific gravity data). Nairn, P.M., Editor. 1936. Wood Specimens - 100 Reproductions in Color - A Series of Selected Timbers Reproduced in Natural Color with Introduction and Annotations by H.A. Cox. The Nema Press, Proprietors of Wood, London. Patterson, D. 1988. Commercial Timbers of the World. Fifth Edition. Gower Technical Press, Aldershot, UK. ix + 339 pp. Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press Ramesh, Rao K., Juneja, K.B.S.,1971,Field Identification of Fifty Important timbers of India,Dehra Dun India 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 Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London Rijsdijk, L.F. and Laming, P.B.,1994,Physical and Related Properties of 145 Timbers, Information for,Practice,TNO Building and Construction Research Centre for Timber Research Kluwer,Academic Publishers Scott, M.H.,1935,Weights of South African Growth Timbers,South African Department of Agriculture and Forestry Bulletin,No.145,Forest Products Institute, Forestry Series No.1 Smith, D.N.,1959,The Natural Durability of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Record,No.30 T.R.A.D.A.,1942,Home-grown timber trees - their characteristics, cultivation and Uses,TRADA Timber Development Association Ltd.,1955,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Timber Development Association Ltd. Titmuss, F.H. 1965. Commercial Timbers of the World. Third Edition (Enlarged of A Concise Encyclopedia of World Timbers). The Technical Press Ltd., London. Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition