The European beech, also known as the copper beech(Fagus sylvatica), is widespread throughout Central Europe and in the south-eastern peripheral regions, particularly in Romania. Beech is dominant there and forms pure stands under certain conditions. Very good availability.
Sapwood and heartwood not clearly distinguishable from each other, light gray to pale yellowish with a reddish tinge, occasionally cloudy red to brown (red heartwood, splash heartwood) due to spontaneous, irregular heartwood growth in the inner areas. Tyloses and ingredients only present in the red core. Pores fine, scattered and numerous. Medullary rays particularly broad and conspicuous, visible in tangential section as reddish stepped spindles, in radial section as stripes several millimeters high (“mirrors”). Growth zones clearly recognizable on the dark sapwood. Altogether simple.
The specific weight is given as 0.69 t/m3 at a wood moisture content of 12%. High shrinkage, the tangential shrinkage is 11.8%, the radial shrinkage is 5.8%. The stamina is satisfactory to sufficient. Drying must be slow if cracking and warping are to be avoided. Overall easy to work with all tools. Intensive steaming produces a reddish-brown color similar to pear. Tends to become discolored when fresh (hardening). Hardness like oak, modulus of elasticity 14,000 – 16,000 N/mm2, not weather-resistant (only durability class 5).
Parquet, staircase construction, veneers, furniture, approx. 250 areas of application are known.
| Sources: |
GOTTWALD (1970) Wood identification of the most important commercial timbers WAGENFÜHR (1996) Wood atlas |
