Origin
Eastern United States, Midwest
Janka Hardness
1,300 lbf
Average Weight
3.75 lbs/bf
Color
Pale cream, sometimes with pink or brown hues; steamed veneer takes on a warmer golden tone; flatsawn surfaces are plain, while quartersawn surfaces display a distinctive silvery fleck pattern.
Working Characteristics
- Good overall workability
- machines, glues, finishes, and turns well
- excellent steam bending response
- notable movement in service — wood stability should be accounted for in application planning.
Species Specifications
| Botanical Name | Fagus grandifolia |
|---|---|
| Other Names | American beech |
| Origin | Eastern United States, Midwest |
| Average Weight | 3.75 lbs/bf |
| Janka Hardness | 1,300 lbf |
| Pore Structure | diffuse porous, though sometimes closer to semi-ring-porous with visible growth ring boundaries with decreased pore frequency and size in latewood |
| Grain / Texture | Straight grain with fine to medium uniform texture; moderate natural luster. |
| Rot Resistance | Rated non-durable to perishable; susceptible to insect attack. |
Hardness Compared to Other Woods
See where American beech falls on the Janka hardness scale compared to other familiar hardwoods.
Softer
Harder
Basswood
410
Cherry
950
Walnut
1010
Red Oak
1290
Hard Maple
1450
Hickory
1820
Purpleheart
2520
The Janka hardness rating measures resistance to denting and wear. Higher numbers generally indicate a harder, denser wood.
Technical Properties
| Shrinkage | Radial: 5.5%, Tangential: 11.9%, Volumetric: 17.2%, T/R Ratio: 2.2 |
|---|---|
| Modulus of Rupture | 14,900 lbf/in2 |
| Elastic Modulus | 1,720,000 lbf/in2 |
| Crushing Strength | 7,410 lbf/in2 |
Why Woodworkers Choose Capital Hardwood
Carefully Selected
We prepare boards with real woodworking projects in mind.
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Real Woodworkers
We know these materials because we work with them every day.