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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 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 Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Fagus sylvatica Trade Name European beech Family Name Fagaceae Common Names Carpathian beech, Common beech, Danish beech, English beech, European beech, Fayard, French beech, Japanese beech, Rod bok, Romanian beech, Rumanian beech, Slavonian beech, Varlig bok, Yugoslavian beech Regions of Distribution Eastern Europe, Oceania and S.E. Asia, Western Europe Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, United Kingdom, Yugoslavia Common Uses Boat building (general), Boat building: framing, Bobbins, Brush backs & handles, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Cooperages, Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Desks, Domestic flooring, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Food containers, Furniture , Furniture, Handles: general, Handles: woodworking tools, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Musical instruments , Musical instruments, Musical instruments: piano, Paneling, Piling, Plywood, Railroad ties, Shade rollers, Sporting Goods, Textile equipment, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Workbenches Environmental Profile Generally secure within its natural habitat Distribution Overview Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden. Does well on chalky limestone hills, but also on most fertile light soils with good drainage. Heartwood Color Brown White Pink White to cream Reddish brown Brown Pale brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale red to pink Sapwood Color Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Straight Figure Rays (figure) Even Other (figure) Growth rings (figure) Weak (figure) Generally straight, but not always Rays figure Weak figure Other figure Clear growth rings (figure) Broad rays are conspicous on longitudinal surfaces. Flat sawn lumber is rather plain in appearance, but quartersawn material shows a distinct attractive silver grain. Texture Medium Fine Medium Even textured Luster High Slightly lustrous Lustrous Natural Durability Durable Perishable Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Sapwood is vulnerable to attack by the longhorn beetle Old timber is readily attacked by death watch beetle Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste Toxicity Respiratory effects Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a moderate speed Drying (speed) is fast UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 UK=D US=T3D2/T3C1 UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 Drying Defects Collapse Distortion Moderate twist/warp Moderate end spitting Moderate surface checking Slight surface checking Ease of Drying Thick Stock Requires Care Requires special attention Fairly Easy Little degrade Medium to High Shrinkage Moderate Radial and tangential shrinkage from 4-7% Easy Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Beech trees are sometimes called Queen of the Woods because of their large size and stately appearance. On deep limey soils, the trees are reported to commonly reach 100 feet (30 m), sometimes reaching 150 feet (45 m). Trunk diameters are often 4 feet (1.2 m), but may be greater. Depending upon growth conditions, boles are clear to 30 to 50 feet (9 to 15 m). Product Sources The timber is consumed more than any other hardwood in the United Kingdom. It is considered to be among the best known and most useful commercial timbers in the world, and is always in demand. European beech is available in long lengths, wide boards, and in the form of veneers, and is in the same price class as the lower cost hardwoods. Substitutes European birch (Betula spp.) and African mahogany (Khaya anthotheca) have similar strength properties. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Varies considerably Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is moderate Blunting effect is variable Slight Dulling effect on cutting edges is variable, but is usually moderate. Boring Fairly easy to very easy Harring is common during boring operations. Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Saws may bind during conversion of green material. Burning and tooth vibration may also occur when cross-cutting tougher material. Narrow bandsawing is satisfactory Gluing Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Very good properties Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Large Fair to poor dimensional stability after seasoning Requires careful and proper seasoning before application Nailing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Pre-boring recommended Holds nails well The timber is fairly hard and moderately heavy Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory planing properties A reduced angle to 30 degrees is recommended Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Heartwood is permeable Heartwood is permeable Sapwood is permeable Sapwood is permeable Moderately resistant Heartwood is moderately resistant The timber is reported to absorb preservatives better than many hardwoods. Resistance to Splitting Excellent Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Easy to Work Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Variable qualities Seasoned wood difficult to work with hand tools Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Screwing Screwing yields good results Possible if prebored Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Easy to cut Easy to cut There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Exhibit an attractive flecked figure on quartered surfaces, and broad rays on longitudinal surfaces. Steam Bending Unsuitable Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very good Good It is possible to bend into very small radii, making it quite useful in furniture industry Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Satisfactory results Staining Fairly Easy to Very Easy Finish is generally satisfactory Finish is generally good Stains very well Can be dyed readily for purposes where colored wood is required Strength Properties 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Mor/Bending strength = medium Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Medium Medium Large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Large Hardness (side grain) = soft Very high Small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = very small Low High High Fairly large 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. The bending strength qualities of this species in the air-dry condition is very high, far superior to those of Mahogany. Compression strength parallel to grain in the air-dry condition is high. Teak, White oak, and Hard maple have high crushing strength. It is fairly hard, resisting wear, denting, and marring fairly well. It is a heavy wood. The wood has high density. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9413 15850 psi Density 45 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1453 lbs Impact Strength 35 44 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 4270 7593 psi Shearing Strength 2090 psi Stiffness 1586 1932 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 13 17 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.65 Weight 43 42 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 661 1114 kg/cm2 Density 721 kg/m3 Hardness 659 kg Impact Strength 88 111 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 300 533 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 146 kg/cm2 Stiffness 111 135 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.91 1.19 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.65 Weight 689 673 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % References Armstrong, F.H.,1960,The Strength Properties of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, London Bulletin,No.45 Banks, C.H.,1954,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with Particular Reference to those,grown in the Union of South Africa,Journal of the South African Forestry Association,No. 24 pp.44-65,[South,African Forestry Journal] Bolza, E.,1976,Timber and Health,Div. Building Res. C.S.I.R.O. Australia Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois and E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods: Temperate and Tropical. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. 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.1 Africa,TRADA, Red Booklet Series 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.,1938,The Natural Resistance to Decay of some Empire Timbers,Empire Forestry Journal,17,pp249 - 259 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.,1954,Hardwoods for Industrial Flooring,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Leaflet, No.48 Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1967,The Steam Bending Properties of various timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Leaflet,No.45 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. Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. 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 Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12 Kribbs, D.A. 1959. Commercial Foreign Woods on the American Market. Buckhout Lab., Dept. of Botany, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania. Kribs, D.A.,1950,Commercial and Foreign Woods on the American Market (a manual to their,structure, identification, uses and distribution,U.S.A. Penn. State College, Tropical Woods Laboratory 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. 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. 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. Longwood, F.R.,1962,Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.207 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 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 Smith, D.N.,1959,The Natural Durability of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Record,No.30 South African Lumber Millers Assoc.,1969,Notes on some Commercially Available Hardwoods,S.A.L.M.A. Timber Info. Centre Timber Technical Guide,No.1 T.R.A.D.A.,1942,Home-grown timber trees - their characteristics, cultivation and Uses,TRADA Tamolang, F.N., Martawijaya, A., Kartasujana, I., Kadir, K., Parwira, S.,1992,Indonesian Wood Atlas Volume II,Department of Forestry, Agency for Forestry Research and Development,,Bogor-Indonesia Thomas, A.V.,1964,Timbers Used in the Boat Building Industry A Survey,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research,Laboratory 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 Wood, A.D.,1963,Plywoods of the World: Their Development, Manufacture and,Application,Johnston & Bacon Ltd. Edinburgh & London