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
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
Light-Induced Color Change
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Odor
Painting
Planing
Polishing
Product Sources
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Substitutes
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Veneering Qualities
| |
Common Names
Buttonwood, English harewood, English maple, European maple, Gray harewood, Great maple, Harewood, Maple, Plane, Plane tree, Planetree, Sycamore, Sycamore plane
Regions of Distribution
Africa, Western Europe
Countries of Distribution
[VIEW MAP]
United Kingdom
Common Uses
Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: framing, Bobbins, Boxes and crates, Brush backs & handles, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Cooperages, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Drawer sides, Drum sticks, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture, Handles: general, Interior construction, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Living-room suites, Marquetry, Musical instruments , Musical instruments: strings, Office furniture, Organ pipes, Paneling , Paneling, Parquet flooring, Piano keys, Pianos , Plywood corestock, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Shade rollers, Shipbuilding, Shuttles, Sounding boards, Spindles, Spools, Sub-flooring, Tables, Textile equipment, Toys, Turnery, Veneer, Veneer: decorative
Environmental Profile
| Status unknown in many of its growth areas |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distribution Overview
Sycampore plane grows in northern Europe and western Asia. It is also planted in Great Britain and the U.S. The tree can be found in seashore gardens due to its high tolerance to salt spray, as well as along roadsides and in hedgerows. It is a resilient, hardy tree, tolerating many kinds of soils.
Heartwood Color
| Yellow |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| White |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Orange |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Brown |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Red |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Green/grey |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Yellowish white |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Brown |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Pale brown |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| White to cream |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Greenish to greyish |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lustrous almost to the point of being iridescent, darkening upon exposure to a light golden brown color. The original white color of the wood is second only to holly wood.
Sapwood Color
| White |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Yellow |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Brown |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Red |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Color not distinct from heartwood |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Whitish |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| White to yellow |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Cream |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grain
| Figure |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Straight |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Wavy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Variable (figure) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distinct (figure) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Even |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Closed |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Other (figure) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Mottled (figure) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Stripe (figure) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fiddleback (figure) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Straight |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| May be wavy or curly |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Variable figure |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distinct figure |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Figure in generally fine |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Striped figure |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Other figure |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Mottled figure |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Lacy figure |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fiddleback figure |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Curly or wavy grain can produce beautiful fiddleback or lacy figures.
Texture
| Fine |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Even or uniform |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Uniform |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fine |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Even textured |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Luster
| Medium |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| High |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Lustrous |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Pronounced |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Natural Durability
| Perishable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Non-durable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Susceptible to insect attack |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Non-resistant to powder post beetles |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Sapwood not resistant to insect attack |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Resistant to powder post beetles |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Non durable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Perishable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Sapwood is vulnerable to insect attack and tends to decay rapidly |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Decay's readily |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Odor
| No specific smell or taste |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Light-Induced Color Change
Kiln Schedules
| Drying (speed) is fast |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Dry at a moderate speed |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Drying Defects
| Discoloration |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Checking |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Splitting |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Resin Exudation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Internal Honeycombing Possible |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ring Shakes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Uneven Moisture Content |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Water pockets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Staining |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Slight surface checking |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Slight end splitting |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ring failure |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Moderate surface checking |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Moderate end spitting |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Honeycombing possible |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Expect resin/gum exudation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Discoloration |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ease of Drying
| Fairly Easy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Rapidly |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Gum Exudation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Slowly |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Moderately Difficult to Difficult |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Little degrade |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Easy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Stains easily |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Air-dries rather well |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Individual boards should be separated from each other.
Kiln drying recommended immediately after cutting to prevent discoloration and staining.
Slow kiln drying will produce a pink-brown weathered color, called Weathered sycamore
Kiln Drying Rate
| Naturally dries quickly |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Naturally dries at a moderate speed |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is straight |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Bole/stem form is cylindrical |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tree Size
| Tree height is 30-40 m |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Bole length is 10-20 m |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Tree height is 20-30 m |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Bole length is 20-30 m |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Boles are usually straight and clear to heights of 50 to 60 feet (15 to 18 m).
Product Sources
Most of the lumber on the market originates from Great Britain. Supplies from outside Europe are rather scarce and expensive, but some lumber may be available from some of the more prominent importers.
The wood is sometimes sold on the market as Harewood, which is Sycamore plane dyed a silver-grey color. The dye is forced into the wood under hydraulic pressure.
Substitutes
Avodire (Turraeanthus africana )
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect
| Moderate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Little |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Blunting effect on machining is moderate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Blunting effect on machining is slight |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Boring
| Fair to good results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fairly easy to very easy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Very good to excellent results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Wood can burn readily if tools are dull |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Excellent results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carving
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fair to Good Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Easy to carve |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cutting Resistance
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Moderate to saw |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cutting Resistance with green wood is moderate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gluing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fair to Good Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Easy to glue |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Very good properties |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Moderate gluing properties |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mortising
| Fair to Good Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Moderately easy to mortise |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Good mortising properties |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Moulding
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fair to Good Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Moulding ease is moderate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Good moulding properties |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sharp cutting edges should be used to prevent burning.
Movement in Service
| Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Excellent Stability - Small Movement |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Medium |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Stable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Small |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Retains shape well after manufacture |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nailing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Pre-Boring Recommended |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fair to Good Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Very good nailing properties |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Possible if prebored |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Holds nails well |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Easy to nail |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Planing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fair to Good Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Planes well, to a good finish |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Moderately easy to plane |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Easy to plane |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Straight-Grained wood can be planed easily. Curly or wavy-grained wood may require sharp cutting edges and reduced cutting angles to prevent pick-up.
Resistance to Impregnation
| Permeable heartwood |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Permeable sapwood |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Heartwood is permeable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Sapwood is permeable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Easily treated with chemicals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Usually exploited in the production Harewood.
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to Work |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Responds Readily |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Moderate working qualities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Easy to machine |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Satisfactorily |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Difficult to machine |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sanding
| Fair to Good Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Good sanding properties |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Good sanding finish |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Screwing
|