Basswood

Basswood sapwood is creamy-white to pale pinkish-brown in colour and gradually merges with the heartwood. The wood will darken to pale brown on drying. It has a fine, straight grain, which is uniform in texture. The sapwood is sometimes sold as white basswood.

Properties:

Basswood is a light, soft and weak wood. It is low in strength and has a poor steam-bending classification. This wood works very easily, and has a low resistance to cutting. Sharp, thin tools are required to obtain a clean finish. It can take stain and polish without difficulty; planes, glues, screws and nails well; and has good carving properties.

Seasoning:

Basswood dries fairly quickly with little distortion or degrade. There is minimal movement in service.

Durability:

It is non-durable, and permeable for preservation treatment. The sapwood is vulnerable to attack from the common furniture beetle and, when in log form, from the longhorn beetle.

Typical Uses:

Since it is odour-free, basswood is used for food containers; other uses include hand carving, patternmaking, furniture, quality joinery, cooperage, mallet heads, beehives, toys, picture framing and piano keys. It is also used for plywood, corestock and veneers.

Tilia americana and related species (Tiliaceae)

Also called:

American lime (UK), American whitewood, lime tree, whitewood, American linden (USA); Florida basswood, Florida linden, Carolina linden

Grows:

Eastern Canada and USA, Great Lakes region

Weight per Board Foot:

2.1 lbs

Typical dry weight:

26lb/ft3 (410kg/m3)

Specific Gravity:

.41

Typical Height:

65-100ft (20-30m)

Trunk Diameter:

4ft (1.2m) max.