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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 Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects 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 Silica Content Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Liquidambar styraciflua Trade Name American red gum Family Name Hamamelidaceae Common Names Alligator tree, American red gum, American styrax, Balsamo, Balsamo blanco, Bilstead, Bilsted, Blisted, Copalillo, Copalone, Diquidambo, Estoraque, Gum, Gum wood, Hazel pine, Hazel wood, Icob, Ien-gau-o, Ingano, Ko'ma, Ko'ma'liso, Liquidambar, Liquidambo, Mola, Nijte-pijto, Nite-biito, Ocozote, Quivambaro, Red gum, Sap gum, Satin walnut, Skchute, Slu'to'nko, Somerio, Starleaf gum, Storax, Sweet gum, Sweetgum, Xochicatscahuitl, Yaga-bizigui, Yaga-huille, Yellow gum Regions of Distribution Africa, Central America, North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, South Africa, United States Common Uses Baskets, Bedroom suites, Boat building, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Cigar boxes, Concealed parts (Furniture), Cooperages, Crossties, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Door, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Food containers, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Matches, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Musical instruments, Office furniture, Paneling , Paneling, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Pulpwood, Railroad ties, Tables, Toothpicks, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Widespread Rather secure globally Rather rare at the periphery of its range Rare in parts of its natural range (population is at risk) Data source is Nature Conservancy Abundant Distribution Overview Sweetgum grows from Connecticut southward throughout the East to central Florida and eastern Texas. It is found as far west as Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma and as far north as southern Illinois. It also grows in scattered locations in northeastern and central Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua Heartwood Color Yellow Brown Orange White Black Reddish brown Brown Pale brown Pale red to pink Dark brown The heartwood (or redgum) is much more colorful than the sapwood. It ranges in color from pinkish brown to a deep full-bodied red. Streaks of black may also be present. The heartwood frequently has darker streaks of pigment figure called figured redgum. The figure is especially prominent in flat sawn timber and rotary cut veneer Sapwood Color White Yellow White to yellow Pinkish Paler than heartwood The wide sapwood (also called sap gum) is creamy white, often with a pinkish tinge. It is often discolored with blue sap stain Grain Figure Interlocked Distinct (figure) Irregular Variable (figure) Mottle Stripe (figure) Weak (figure) Interlocked Distinct figure Weak figure Striped figure Mottled or streaked figure sometimes Irregular Irregular color Grain irregularity is reported to give quartered material an interesting ribbon-stripe figure, but may also cause distortion during drying. A limited amount of red gum has an unusual grain pattern, usually referred to as 'flame grain'. The sapwood has a plain pattern which has been described as watery. Texture Coarse Medium Fine Uniform Even textured Luster Medium Lustrous The wood surface exhibits a satiny luster. The nickname Satin walnut for Sweetgum is believed to have come from the beautiful satin-like luster Natural Growth Defects Gum and mineral deposits The wood sometimes contains traumatic (wound) gum canals, which are usually filled with white deposits called storax. The gummy deposit is used as an ingredient in perfumes, adhesives, and salves Natural Durability Moderately durable Non-resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to termites Susceptible to insect attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Moderately durable Non durable Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Decay's readily Susceptible to attack by insects. Odor No specific smell or taste Silica Content Siliceous Toxicity Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules T8 - C4 (4/4); T5 - C3 (8/4) US Sapwood: T12 - F5 (4/4); T11 - D4 (8/4) US Drying Defects Moderate twist/warp Severe twisting/warping Severe drying and wetwood may contribute to surface- and end-checking, honeycombing, collapse, and water pockets during drying. The sapwood is often discolored with blue sap stain Ease of Drying Requires careful seasoning to prevent degrade Moderate Dries at a rapid rate Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Bole length is 10-20 m Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 20-30 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm The large tree is reported to often attain a height of 60 to 100 feet (18 to 30 m), with a trunk diameter of 18 to 36 inches (50 to 90 cm). The tree is a good choice as an ornamental because of its attractive foliage in the Fall season Product Sources Although gum lumber is available, its supply has dropped because of its low price, which makes it uneconomical to cut. Prices are reported to vary greatly between gum sapwood and heartwood. Figured Red gum from the heartwood, which has a mottled or marbled appearance and a satiny shine, is highly prized and is usually priced in the valuable range. The price of Sap gum (from the sapwood) is in the inexpensive pricing range. Sweet gum is in great demand for furniture in England, France, and Germany. Substitutes Piquia (Caryocar villosum) Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good The sapwood and heartwood of Sweetgum are usually sold separately. Red gum, sometimes called Hazelwood, is obtained from the heartwood of this unique North American hardwood. The sapwood is often sold under the name, Sap gum in the United States and Hazel pine in the United Kingdom. The Italian market has accepted American red gum as a substitute for Italian walnut. Blunting Effect There is only a mild blunting effect on cutting edges because of gummy deposits. Boring Good (75+ pieces out of 100 will yield good to excellent results) Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy The wood is generally easy to work and has low resistance to sawing. Gummy deposits in red gum may cause cutting edges to blunt slightly Gluing Easy to glue Good gluing propeties Difficult to glue Mortising Fair mortising properties Number with fair to excellent results after moulding one hundred pieces = 58 Moulding Weathering properties are very poor Percent of moulded pieces with good to excellent results = 28 Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Large The wood is very sensitive to changes in atmospheric conditions, and tends to move considerably in use. Dimensional stability is better in quartersawn material Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to nail Good nailing properties Number of pieces free from complete splits after nailing one hundred pieces = 69 Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult The wood is reported to plane readily to yield a smooth and shiny finish. (Number of planed pieces without any machining defects out of one hundred = 51) Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is extremely resistant Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Responds well Sanding Very poor sanding properties Percent of sanded pieces with good to excellent results = 23 Screwing Screwing yields good results Easy to screw Percent of pieces free from complete splits = 69 Turning Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Easy to turn American Red Gum responds well to both hand and machine tools in turning. (Percent of turned pieces with fair to excellent results = 86) Veneering Qualities Easy to cut There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling Much of the wood is processed into fine cabinet veneers with attractive and differing figures. The veneers have the advantage of responding readily to staining to simulate different woods, such as cherry, maple, oak, or mahogany. Sliced sweet gum veneers are reported to make beautiful wall panelling and decorative veneers Steam Bending Very poor Number of unbroken pieces after steam bending one hundred pieces = 29 Painting Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Satisfactory results Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good results Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Stains well Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Hardness (side grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7212 11988 psi Crushing Strength 363 608 psi Density 36 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1271 lbs Impact Strength 35 31 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 2979 6194 psi Shearing Strength 1815 psi Stiffness 1449 1801 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 10 12 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.42 0.58 Weight 41 35 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 10 % Volumetric Shrinkage 15 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 507 842 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 25 42 kg/cm2 Density 576 kg/m3 Hardness 576 kg Impact Strength 88 78 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 209 435 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 127 kg/cm2 Stiffness 101 126 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.70 0.84 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.42 0.58 Weight 657 560 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 10 % References Banks, C.H. and J.P. 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United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Madison, Wisconsin Brazier, J.D., Franklin, G.L.,1967,An Appraisal of the Wood Characteristics and Potential Uses of some,Nicaraguan Timbers,FAO for Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World: - No.7 North America,TRADA 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. 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