Plum – damson

Wood for wind instruments, string bows, turning wood

Names and distribution:

The plum tree(Prunus domestica) belongs to the rose family and is related to the cherry. Mainly grown for its fruit, the wood is an agricultural by-product. The tree species is comparatively rare and is prized by connoisseurs.

Wooden picture:

Sapwood and heartwood clearly contrasting in color. Heartwood is pink – light brown with occasional purple streaks when freshly cut, later darkening to yellow-brown. Fine-pored and of uniform structure; often pronounced twisted growth, then virtually without economic significance, decorative.

Properties:

Density at u=12% is 0.80 t/m³. The shrinkage from the fresh state to u=12% is specified as 7.8% tangential and 4.8% radial. Strong shrinkage with a tendency to tear and twist; after drying, however, with good stability. Easy and smooth to machine, good for profiling and turning. Produces uniformly smooth surfaces, easy to polish and stain. The Brinell hardness is given as 33. Plums are not durable, older stems tend to develop brown rot due to their age. Sensitive to light: without effective UV protection, the wood will lose its striking color over the years.

Use:

Woodturning and carving, knife handles, woodwind instruments, historical bows.