Creative Woodworks & crafts 2004-06, страница 71

The tree has small flowers that appeal" in early spring every 3 to 5 years, when the leaves are 1/3 developed. The flowers ultimately develop into a prickly husk (involucre) that contains up to 4 seeds. The seeds are 1/2" to 3/4" long, triangularly shaped, edible, and relished by birds and animals (including man). The husk, like the leaves, will remain on the tree until spring, and along with the bark makes l'or positive winter identification.

This species is not fully dependent upon seeds for reproduction as it is prone to root suckering, (be process by which secondary shoots arise from (he base of the tree's trunk and (he roots.

The wood has found many uses throughout history and is not too hard to fabricate using hand or machine tools. The wood is classified as hard, heavy and strong with good shock resistance; however, it is difficult to dry without defects. We have found that it dries best when cut soon after felling and immediately stacked and slickered, with the thinner hoards on the bottom of the pile and plenty of weight on top. II' the log is less than perfect, it can be used as firewood or, at best, turning stock. Be careful in using air-dried beech for fine furniture because it has greater seasonal movement, including warping, than kiln dried.

The wood is easily steam bent, wears well and finds use in drawer slides or olher applications where wood moves against wood. The grain has a mild fleck when quarter sawn, more prominent than in hard maple, but not as prominent as sycamore.

Even with (he difficulties of machining and drying, the wood still finds many uses today primarily because of its properties and low price. It is used for veneer, cross ties, slack and light cooperage, lumber, pulpwood, and food containers bccause it does not impart any taste or odor to its contents. Some breweries use beech barrels to age beer, claiming that it imparts a better flavor than other woods for aging.

it is also used for baskets, flooring, crates, millwork, novelties, and fuel: however, it is probably best known for its use in furniture. You will find it not only in bent items, but also as major components of inexpensive furniture and as core stock in better picces.

As you can see in the photograph, (he growth rings are similar to maple and are classified as diffuse-porous, with the pores being

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.small and distinct. The wood holds nails and screws well, but has a strong tendency to split, making the pre-drilling of holes a necessity. Although we have had good luck gluing the wood with commonly available glues, glue adhesion can be a problem. Wc coat both surfaces with a light, evenly spread coal of glue (with no bare spots), and then clamp firmly, but not so tight as to drive all the glue out of Ihe joint. You have to work fast or use slow setting glue on large joints or the glue will skim over before the joint is put together. Others use heavy coats and rely on clamp pressure to distribute the glue during clamping, but if the bead of glue is not even, you can get bare spots. If the item being glued up will in any way carry weight, such as a tabic, it's a good idea to reinforce the joints with dowels or biscuits, and if it is a chair, rely on proper joints and fasteners along with glue.

Beech has the greatest amount shrinkage of all trees. A 12"-wide flat-sawn board will shrink nearly 12% when the moisture content goes from 20% down lo 12% MC, or nearly 3/8", whereas a quarter-sawn board will shrink less— 5.5% or 3/16". When in service, it will move 5/16" from 6% to 12% for a flat-sawn board and 5/32" for quarter-sawn.

Don't confuse Kuropean beech (Fagus sylvatica) with American beech. Although they are similar, sylvatica has better working characteristics than its American counterpart, and has a richer color. The Europeans manage their forests much more intensively then we do, and in so doing, supply higher quality logs to the market, although in smaller numbers and at a proportionately higher price. So, if you are thinking of building your new workbench out of American beech, think twice because it will not work out as well as the imported beech; but if you do, at least use quarter-sawn lumber. »B

Creative Wooctoorkn & Crafts June 2D04 • 71