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Blunting Effect
Boring
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
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
Synonyms
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Aesculus hippocastanum

Trade Name
European horse chestnut

Family Name
Hippocastanaceae

Synonyms
Aesculus memmingeri, Aesculus procera


Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Common Names


European horse chestnut
Horse chestnut
Marrionier d'inde

Regions of Distribution
Eastern Europe, Oceania and S.E. Asia, Western Europe

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, France, Greece, India, Iran, United Kingdom

Common Uses
Baskets, Boxes and crates, Broom handles, Brush backs & handles, Brush backs & handles, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Decorative plywood, Flooring, Food containers, Furniture, Handles: general, Interior construction, Interior trim, Moldings, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Sporting Goods, Tables, Textile equipment, Toys, Turnery, Veneer, Veneer: decorative

Environmental Profile
Vulnerable
Vulnerable in many parts of its natural habitat
Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center

Particularly in Bulgaria

Distribution Overview
Its common range is in southern Europe (Greece, Albania), though it is naturalized at scattered locales throughout eastern North America from Maine to Minnesota, and south to South Carolina. It is also found in Great Britian, where it is widely cultivated.

Heartwood Color
White
Yellow
Orange
Brown
Red
Pink
White to cream
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Pale brown
Pale red to pink

Trees felled in early winter are often very white in color while those felled later in the season have colors that vary from yellow to light brown.

Sapwood Color
Red
Brown
Yellow
White
Color not distinct from heartwood


Grain
Wavy
Interlocked
Figure
Crossed
Closed
Spiral
Straight
Even
Growth rings (figure)
Mottled (figure)
Rippled (figure)
Rays (figure)

Wavy
Interlocked
Straight
Spiral
Rippled figure
Mottled figure
Clear growth rings (figure)
Rays figure
Crossed

Storied rays often produce a ripple or mottle figure on longitudinal surfaces.

Texture
Fine
Close
Even or uniform
Fine
Uniform
Close


Luster
Low
Slightly lustrous


Natural Durability
Perishable
Resistant to powder post beetles
Susceptible to insect attack
Non-durable
Sapwood non-resistant to furniture beetles
Moderately durable
Perishable
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Non durable
Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack
Very little natural resistance
Sapwood is vulnerable to attack by furniture beetles
Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack
Moderately durable


Odor
No specific smell or taste


Light-Induced Color Change
Darker


Kiln Schedules
Drying (speed) is fast
Dry at a moderate speed


Drying Defects
Splitting
Distortion
End splitting
Distortion (twist/warp) is likely


Ease of Drying
Fairly Easy
Rapidly
Slowly
Reconditioning Treatement
Little degrade
Moderately Difficult to Difficult
Easy
Moderate
Little or no degrade


Kiln Drying Rate
Naturally dries quickly
Naturally dries at a moderate speed


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is cylindrical


Tree Size
Tree height is 30-40 m
Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm
Tree height is 20-30 m
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Bole length is 0-10 m
Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm


Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect
Little
Blunting effect on machining is slight


Boring
Fair to good results
Fairly easy to very easy
Satisfactory results


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw
Moderate to saw
Easy to saw
Cutting Resistance with green wood is moderate
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate


Gluing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Easy to glue
Very good properties


Mortising
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to mortise


Moulding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


The wood can be moulded or shaped easily but a reduced cutting angle is recommended for best results.

Movement in Service
Excellent Stability - Small Movement
Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement
Small
Stable
Small movement in use


Nailing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Satisfactory nailing properties
Holds satisfactorily
Holds nails well


Planing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Moderately easy to plane
Easy to plane

Reduced cutting angle is recommended

Resistance to Impregnation
Permeable heartwood
Permeable sapwood
Heartwood is permeable


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to Work
Responds Readily
Easy to machine
Works well with hand tools


Routing & Recessing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Good in both routing and recessing.


Sanding
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Easy to sand


Screwing
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Screwing yields good results


Turning
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Good results
Easy to turn
Satisfactory


Veneering Qualities
Suitable for peeling
Veneers easily
Veneers moderately easy
Suitable for slicing
Easy to cut
Suitable for slicing


Steam Bending
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Good
Very good
Moderate


Polishing
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Good results
Satisfactory results


Staining
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Finish is generally good
Satisfactory staining properties


Varnishing
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Good results


Strength Properties
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low
Max. crushing strength = low
Work to Maximum Load = very low