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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 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 Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Varnishing Scientific Name Populus tremula Trade Name European aspen Family Name Salicaeae Common Names European aspen, Finnish aspen, French aspen, Swedish aspen Regions of Distribution Eastern Europe, Mediterranean Sea Region, Oceania and S.E. Asia, Western Europe Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, United Kingdom Common Uses Boxes and crates, Decorative veneer, Drawer sides, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Interior construction, Joinery, Matches, Plywood, Toys, Truck bodies, Veneer Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Native to Scotland, Ireland, England, and Wales, the species occurs in Europe, northern Africa, and Asia. Its natural range includes the entire British Isles, and is also found in the Scandinavian countries, Poland, and Russia. The tree tolerate poor soils very well. It occurs in the mountains in the southern region of its growth range. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Black Orange Purple White to cream Pinkish brown Light brown Grayish-white European aspen is whiter in color, and is generally of better quality than Poplars. Sapwood Color White Yellow Same as heartwood Grain Even Straight Generally straight, but not always Texture Coarse Medium Uniform Coarse It tends to be wooly, but Aspen is generally considered to have a finer texture than the Poplars Luster Medium Natural Durability Very durable Durable Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to termites Non-resistant to powder post beetles Very little natural resistance The standing tree is susceptible to attack by Longhorn beetles. Susceptible to wood-boring caterpillars Seldom attacked by wood-boring caterpillars Felled logs are susceptible to attack by longhorn beetles Odor No specific smell or taste Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules Schedule E (4/4) United Kingdom Drying Defects Splitting Checking Expect severe degrade from water pockets. Expect moderate degrade due to knots, splits, and loosening Ease of Drying Slowly Dries rapidly with little degrade Kiln Drying Rate Very slow Naturally dries at a moderate speed Drying rate is slow Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 0-10 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Aspen from Britain is reported to seldom attain timber sizes, and are usually cultivated for other purposes than the production of timber Product Sources Several species of Poplar and European aspen are routinely marketed together, although timber quality within each species can vary significantly depending upon growth conditions. Blunting Effect Slight Cutting Resistance Saws tend to bind during conversion Cross-Cutting and narrow bandsawing are satisfactory Gluing Excellent gluing properties Movement in Service Medium Fair stability Nailing The ease of nailing is satisfactory Planing Requires very sharp and thin cutting angles Reduction of cutting angle recommended Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Steam Bending Unsuitable for bending - wood tends buckle severely on concave face Strapping and end-pressure devices are reported to do very little to improve bending properties Painting Good results Polishing Fair to Good Results Poor to Very Poor Results Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory results Staining Wood may stain unevenly Finish is generally satisfactory Varnishing Satisfactory Strength Properties Weight = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Compression strength (parallel to grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Specific Gravity 0.42 Weight 26 21. lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Specific Gravity 0.42 References Coombes, A.J. 1992. Trees - The Visual Guide to More than 500 Species from Around the World. Eyewitness Handbooks. Published in the United States by Dorling Kinderley, Inc, New York. Distributed by Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 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. Laidlaw, W.B.R. 1960. Guide to British Hardwoods. Published by Leonard Hill [Books] Limited, 9 Eden Street, N.W.1, London. Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc. Fresno, California.