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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
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Odor
Painting
Planing
Polishing
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
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Platanus occidentalis

Trade Name
Sycamore

Family Name
Platanaceae

Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Common Names
American plain, American plane, American planetree, American sycamore, American western plane, Butterwood, Button-ball, Buttonball tree, Buttonwood, Californian button-wood, Lacewood, Plane, Planetree, Plataan, Sycamore

Regions of Distribution
North America

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
United States

Common Uses
Baskets, Boards, Boxes and crates, Broom handles, Brush backs & handles, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Casks, Cigar boxes, Cooperages, Decorative veneer, Dressed boards, Figured veneer, Flooring, Food containers, Fuelwood, Furniture, Handles: general, Interior construction, Joinery, Lumber, Millwork, Packing cases, Pallets, Paneling , Paneling, Particleboard, Plywood, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Rough boards/dimension stock, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wainscotting

Environmental Profile
Widespread, abundant and globally secure
May be rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery
Data source is Nature Conservancy


Distribution Overview
The growth range of Sycamore in North America reported to include Ontario, Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, and West Virginia. The tree prefers wet soils of stream banks, flood plains, and edges of lakes and swamps, and is a dominant species in mixed forests.

Heartwood Color
Yellow
Orange
Brown
White
Red
Reddish brown
Pale brown
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Dark brown
Brown
Pale red to pink
Light to dark brown or reddish brown
Flesh-Brown


Sapwood Color
Red
Yellow
White
White to yellow
Paler than heartwood
Whitish to light yellowish, or reddish brown


Grain
Figure
Interlocked
Growth rings (figure)
Crossed
Other (figure)
Distinct (figure)
Mottled (figure)
Spiral

Interlocked
Clear growth rings (figure)
Broad rays produce silver grain on quartersawn surfaces
Other figure
Spiral
Mottled figure
Interlocked and irregular
Distinct and very fine figure

Large crowded, brown rays contrast with white wood tissue in background to add to the beauty of Sycamore.

Texture
Fine
Fine
Fine to medium
Even textured


Luster
Low
Lustrous


Natural Durability
Perishable
Non-durable
Susceptible to insect attack
Moderately durable
Non-resistant to powder post beetles
Non-resistant to termites
Non durable
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Should not be used in areas of high decay hazard
Poor resistance to decay


Odor
No specific smell or taste


Kiln Schedules
T6-D2(4/4); T3-D1 (8/4) US


Drying Defects
Splitting
Checking
Distortion
Moderate twist/warp
Slight twist/warp
Slight surface checking
Severe twisting/warping
May develop honeycomb, ring failure, and water pockets


Ease of Drying
Fairly Easy
Moderately Difficult to Difficult
Slowly
Rapidly
Easy
Slight tendency to warp and check during drying
Large shrinkage may occur
Fairly difficult to dry


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


Tree Size
Tree height is 30-40 m
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Tree height is 20-30 m
Bole length is 20-30 m
Tree height is 40-50 m
Tree height is 10-20 m


The bark is two or more inches thick in older trees, and its conspicuous white color, spattered with different shades of green and brown gives the tree the name of Ghost tree. The tree often develops a large bole over a swollen base

Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory

Blunting Effect
Little
Slight blunting effect on cutting tools


Boring
Fairly easy to very easy
Fair to good results
Good boring qualitites
Expected number of bored pieces out of one hundred with good to excellent holes is 98


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Low resistance to sawing
Cutting edges should be kept sharp to prevent torn rays


Gluing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to glue
Moderate gluing properties
Good gluing properties


Mortising
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Excellent mortising characteristics
Average number of mortised prices out of 100 reported to yield fair to excellent results is 96


Moulding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Responds very poorly to moulding operations
Average number of shaped pieces out of 100 reported to produce good to excellent results is 12


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


Nailing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Holds satisfactorily
Thinner stock should be pre-bored
Good nailing characteristics
Good nail holding properties
Average number of nailed pieces out of 100 free from complete splits is 79


Planing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Requires some care in planing because of interlocked grain
Ease of planing is moderate
Average number of planed pieces out of 100 reported to yield perfect pieces is 22


Resistance to Impregnation
Permeable heartwood
Permeable sapwood
Fairly resistant to impregnation


Resistance to Splitting
Good


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to Work
Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work
Moderate working qualities
Easy to machine
Difficult to machine
Responds well to hand tools
Keep sharp for best results


Routing & Recessing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Sanding
Poor sanding qualitites
Average number of sanded pieces out of 100 reported to produce good to excellent surfaces is 21


Screwing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Percent of screwed pieces free from complete splits is 74
Good screwing properties


Turning
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Good results
Easy to turn
Percent of turned pieces expected to produce fair to excellent results is 85
Good turning charcteristics, especially when cutters are kept very sharp


Veneering Qualities
Suitable for peeling
Veneers easily
Veneers moderately easy
Easy to cut
There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits


Steam Bending
Fair to Good Results
Poor steam bending characteristics
Moderate
Average number of pieces out of 100 reported to steam bend without breaking is 29


Painting
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results


Polishing
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Satisfactory results
Requires some care for good results
Good results


Staining
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Finish is generally satisfactory
Satisfactory staining properties
Responds well to all types of stains


Varnishing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair varnishing properties


Strength Properties
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low
Hardness (side grain) = soft
Max. crushing strength = low
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Work to Maximum Load = very low
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low
Hardness (side grain) = very soft
Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.
Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low
Max. crushing strength = medium
Weight = moderate
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Compression strength (parallel to grain) = low
Bending strength (MOR) = very low

The species has medium bending strength in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content). It is closer in strength to Mahogany than either Teak or White oak, which have higher bending strength.It is moderately hard and resistant to wearing and marring

Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength61059457psi
Crushing Strength353686psi
Density35lbs/ft3
Hardness763lbs
Impact Strength2527inches
Maximum Crushing Strength28535110psi
Shearing Strength1473psi
Stiffness104913211000 psi
Work to Maximum Load67inch-lbs/in3
Specific Gravity0.440.46
Weight3934lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage5%
Tangential Shrinkage7%
Volumetric Shrinkage14%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength429664kg/cm2
Crushing Strength2448kg/cm2
Density560kg/m3
Hardness346kg
Impact Strength6368cm
Maximum Crushing Strength200359kg/cm2
Shearing Strength103kg/cm2
Stiffness73921000 kg/cm2
Work to Maximum Load0.420.49cm-kg/cm3
Specific Gravity0.440.46
Weight624544kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage5%
Tangential Shrinkage7%

References
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, Forest Products Laboratory, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Madison, Wisconsin.

Brown, H.P. and Panshin, A.J.,1940,Commercial Timbers of the United States Their structure, identification,,properties and uses,McGraw-Hill, London

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World: - No.7 North America,TRADA

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. 1991. Good Wood Handbook - The Woodworker's Guide to Identifying, Selecting and Using the Right Wood. Betterway Publications, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Kline, M. 1979. Platanus occidentalis - Sycamore. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 281-282.

Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12

Laidlaw, W.B.R. 1960. Guide to British Hardwoods. Published by Leonard Hill [Books] Limited, 9 Eden Street, N.W.1, London.

Little, E.L. 1980. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Eastern Region. Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York.

Markwardt, L.J., Wilson, T.R.C.,1935,Strength and related properties of woods grown in the United States,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture Technical Bulletin,No.479

McAlpine, R.G. and Applefield, M.,1973,American Woods - American Sycamore,USDA, Forest Service American Woods FS-267

Panshin, A.J. and C. deZeeuw. 1980. Textbook of Wood Technology, 4th Edition. McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York.

Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press

Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press

Stone, H.,1924,The Timbers of Commerce and their Identification,William Rider & Sons Ltd. London

T.D.A.,1942,Timber Leaflet - No.68 Plane,TRADA Timber Leaflet

Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition

U.S.D.A. Forest Service,1974,Wood Handbook,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Handbook,72

USDA. 1987. Wood Handbook - Wood as an Engineering Material, Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook No. 72, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

USDA. 1988. Dry Kiln Operators Manual, Preliminary Copy. Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.









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