Beech – American
Fagus grandifolia
• Also known as |
American Beech|Beech|Beechwood
Quick Look
Both American Beech and its European counterpart are known for their pale cream coloration, which is often augmented by a pink or light- to medium-colored muted reddish-brown hue. Its medium texture and typically straight grains and sometimes wavy, give it excellent working properties. American Beech cuts, turns, glues and finishes very well and has a moderate natural luster.
Flat-sawn pieces usually have very plain-looking aesthetics; the bulk of which is used for utility purposes. Conversely, quartersawn pieces typically exhibit a silvery fleck pattern — which lends the wood well to furniture and musical instrument applications, with more exquisite examples often finding their way to veneer mills.
Not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Why We Love This Wood
Its similar hardness and density has seen it used as an alternative to Maple in some applications. The wood is decidedly non-durable and susceptible to insect attack. It responds well to steam-bending, but its stability can be suspect. Beech veneer has a different appearance to it's lumber. Veneer sheets (cut at only 1/42" thickness) require the wood to first be steamed. This darkens the wood, producing a pleasant golden brown color. American Beech is a common, plentiful wood and, thus, priced rather modestly.
Quick Look
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Vital Statistics
Main Color Group | Yellow / Pink |
Grain Pattern | Even |
Avg Dry Weight - LB/FT3 | 45 |
Avg Dry Weight - KG/M3 | 720 |
Janka Hardness - LBF | 1300 |
Janka Hardness - N | 5780 |
A Popular Choice in
beech-american
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MULTBEECHAMPR1001
2.6
x 14 x
275 cm
Multi-pack of Prime American Beech. Pack quantities work in units of volume. 0.1m3 per unit. For a larger volumes, add multiple packs to your cart.
- Lengths: Various lengths available.  We’ll do our best to match length your request, but may substitute for longer lengths.  We will contact you if substitutes deviate too far from your chosen length.  If your requirement is very strict, please specify in the order notes.
- Thickness: Various standard thicknesses available.
- Widths: Random widths, 100mm & up (average 140mm)
R4,061.80
Other Species
Chestnut - European
Durable and relatively affordable, European Chestnut is a popular cladding species in Europe. With looks similar to Oak and Ash, we are sure you will love the appearance of Sweet Chestnut. Grain can be interlocked, but Chestnut is still relatively easy to work. It can split relatively easily, so pre-drilling is essential.
This is a new species for us here at Rare Woods and a first for South Africa. We are delighted with what arrived and can’t wait to get it into some of your projects.
Detail
Common Uses
chestnut-european
Birch Plywood
Available in a range of thicknesses and grades, Birch Plywood is a wonderful, high-end board product used in the production of cabinets, furniture and more. With a consistent layer thicknesses, a thick veneer face and all voids patched, Birch Plywood is visually appealing on face grain and end grain, structurally sound and stable in use (indoor application only).
Our Birch Plywood comes from Eastern Europe and we stock both S/BB and BB/BB grades with thicknesses ranging from 6.5mm to 21mm in standard sheet dimensions of 2.45mx1.22m
Grade Summary:
S/BB: Better face clear – may have occasional patch. Second face is BB grade.
BB/BB: both faces are grade BB. Can be up to 29 patches, a side, but typically 3-6 patches a side.
Common Uses:
boxes, cabinetry, carpentry, construction
boxes, cabinetry, carpentry, construction
Detail
Common Uses
birch-plywood
Longhi
Longhi is an African wood with similar working properties to its more well-known cousin, Anegre. Its color varies from a greyish-white to beige to pinkish-brown color, which slightly darkens with age and UV-ray exposure. Its generally light appearance makes sapwood difficult to distinguish. Its grains are typical straight (though occasionally interlocked) and its texture ranges between fine and medium-fine. It can sometimes possess mottled or subtle tiger-striped figuring.
The wood must be carefully dried, as it is susceptible to fungus. It is considered to be moderately durable, and moderately stable. Longhi has a solid strength-to-weight ratio, which makes it a popular choice for flooring and decking.
Common Uses:
cabinetry, decking, flooring, furniture
cabinetry, decking, flooring, furniture
Detail
Common Uses
longhi
Birch - Flame Roasted
“Roasting” Flame Birch involves gradually heating the wood up to temperatures of greater than 160 degrees celcius in special heat chambers made of stainless steel under anoxic conditions. The heat removes organic compounds from the wood cells, changing both the physical and chemical make-up of the wood. The process is natural and chemical free. It darkens the wood to a beautiful rich chocolatey brown color whilst still showing the gorgeous grain and figure of the underlying wood.
The thermally modified wood is more dimensionally stable, but the process does reduce bending strength and make the wood a little more brittle. This makes it chip a little easier than the un-modified lumber. The brittleness makes it less suitable for intricate cabinetry, but it is still an excellent choice for less intricate items such as floors, tops, panels, cladding etc.
Extra care needs to be taken when finishing thermally modified wood, as the “bone dry” wood has a tendency to “suck in” much of what is given to it. Our in-house woodworking specialist has had excellent results with Osmo PolyX. He suggests a thicker finish will work better.
Common Uses:
flooring, interior panelling
flooring, interior panelling
Detail
Common Uses
birch-flame-roasted
Melunak
This Malaysian species is a medium weight timber suitable for light structural purposes. It is a popular joinery timber and it machines easily and finishes well.
Common Uses:
furniture, joinery
furniture, joinery
Detail
Common Uses
melunak
Anegre
Indigenous to the tropical regions of East Africa and West Africa, as far south as Angola.¬† Anegre has been used primarily as an interior wood; it is decidedly non-durable, and thus not recommended for outdoor applications. The wood’s aesthetics can vary greatly, as Anegre is comprised of three separate species within the Pouteria genus. Its colors can range from pale yellowish to orangish-brown wood, to a pale pinkish-brown, sometimes with additional highlight coloration. Anegre typically darkens to a golden-to reddish brown over time, with repeated UV ray exposure. The heartwood and sapwood of Anegre are usually not distinguishable from each other.
Anegre has a medium texture with closed pores similar to Maple.  The species is easy to work with both hand and power tools.
Examples can be quite beautiful — and sometimes stunning, with curly and mottled figuring being not uncommon. Its hues tend to be generally pastel in nature, so it makes a very complimentary, aesthetically unimposing wood for a variety of interior applications. Grains are typically straight but can occasionally be interlocked. Its texture is medium and it has a nice natural luster.
Common Uses:
boatbuilding, cabinetry, carpentry, construction, veneer
boatbuilding, cabinetry, carpentry, construction, veneer
Detail
Common Uses
anegre