European Beech is a deciduous shade tree from Europe. The heartwood and sapwood are cream to pale pink in colour with a straight grain and fine, even texture. It is common practice to steam the timber, which turns it to a darker pink-red colour. Grain is straight, with fine to medium uniform texture and moderate natural luster. It has no characteristic odour. Slicing the veneer usually requires the wood to be prepared with steam, which gives the wood a more golden tone. Flatsawn surfaces tend to be very plain, while quatersawn surfaces exhibit a silvery fleck pattern.
The fruit is known as beechnut or mast. Each one consists of traingular nuts surrounded by a spiky cover. It is favoured by many kinds of wildlife and is also edible for humans, though you may find that they taste quite tart due to tannin levels.
Allergies/ Toxicity: although severe reactions are quite common, European Beech has been reported as been reporetd as a sensitizer. Usually most common reactions simply include eye, skin, and respiratory irritation.
MAIN USES:
Furniture and cabinetmaking, interior joinery, turnery,
tool handles and general wood ware.
WORKING PROPERTIES:
Beech offers medium resistance to hand and power
tools and has a moderate blunting effect. Pre-boring is
necessary for nailing, it glues easily, stains well and takes
an excellent finish.
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES:
The steam bending properties are extremely good, even
tolerant of knots and irregular grain. It has medium
stiffness, high crushing strength and medium resistance
to shock loads.
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