Beech, European

Botanical name: Fagus sylvatica

 

Other names: GB: Beech, European Beech F: Hêtre D: Buche, Rotbuche I: Faggio VL: Beuken NL: Beuken

The colour is creamy white to pale pink and gets more red due to higher drying temperatures or when exposed to steam. The heartwood is not demarcated from the sapwood. Sometimes there are reddish areas near the heart. The wood has a fine texture. Beech is a diffuse porous timber but annual rings and rays are clearly visible. The wood is very hard and heavy with very good strength properties. Machining is well, gluing is good, nailing and screwing is good, but pre-boring is necessary. Beech has good properties for bending in processing of bent furniture.

Beech is one of the most important European hardwoods. Its common uses are furniture, flooring, stairs, and bent wood for furniture.