Description

Use: a wood of large dimensions, among the most used in Europe. Used for furniture, wood flooring, chairs and work benches. Beech can be steamed and thus sold as "Cooked Beech" or "Steamed Beech”.

Characteristics: sapwood and heartwood are not clearly differentiated. Whitish colour, tending to grey with light reddish-brown tones. The medullary rays are wide and well marked. This property can give this wood a somewhat wavy appearance during veneer production. It is not particularly resistant to weathering and is easily attacked by plant and wood-boring parasites if left in humid environments. 

Drying: Beech has a strong tendency to break and warp, so drying must be slow.

Surface: fine texture with regular structure and straight grain. No problem with the application of stains, varnishes or lacquers.

Gluing: very suitable for glue joints, which are the most used.