Replies

1. 
   ring | Sep 14, 2005 05:53pm | #1

   Craig,

   I know the stuff well.  Usually it's extremely uniform within a bundle.  The color is mostly a function of how much they steam it.  It is therefore very reliable for achieving repeatable and predictable finishes.  IMHO it has 2 downsides - it moves quite a lot with changes in humidity, as you noticed.  It won't forgive minor transgressions in allowing for movement; you have to put things together "by the book".  Second thing - it's pretty boring as far as grain and figure goes.  With certain finishes it may be just what is needed, but I don't use much beech mainly because I don't find it attractive.

   As far as abrasive is concerned, I've never noticed any special difficulty.  Beech is probably the most used species in European industrial productions.  The usual carbide tools don't have any problems with it.

   DR 

2. 
   wop | Sep 14, 2005 06:52pm | #2

      Yes it is possible that it is from here in Italy, we have tons of the stuff. If it is steamed movement is not a problem. The more steamed it is the more reddish it is, if it tends to white it is either raw or just barely steamed. Don't get raw beech.

      As far as working it is a dream wood. Stains well and finishes well ,but as was said it doesn't have much character in the grain. Also here it is as common as bad luck, so if you build fine furniture out of it, it still looks cheap.

      I use it for stairs , work station tops and other applications where it is valued for its properties and not its looks. I've never seen much movement in it and it is not abrasive. The dust is listed as a possible carcinagenic so use good dust collection.

      In my opinion if it isn't common there you can make some great stuff out of it.It would be ideal for kitchen cabinets.

                                                                                       Philip

1. 
   CraigC | Sep 15, 2005 03:06am | #3

   Thanks Rick & Phillip. You're right, it's great to work with in milling and staining. Reminds me a lot of maple. But you're saying that this one board I bought is uncommon? See attached. Maybe this isn't a representative sample and I should buy more to get a better idea before I pop for 800 bd ft, as the client liked the look. The 1/4" ply and 3/4" laminboard I'd be using also show good grain, although straighter than what you see here.

1. 
   CraigC | Sep 15, 2005 06:35am | #4

   Whoops. I'll try this attachment again.

   
1. 
   ring | Sep 15, 2005 07:54am | #5

   Craig,

   I can't judge the color from the photo but the grain pattern is perfectly typical.  The boards will all look the same.

   DR

2. 
   wop | Sep 16, 2005 01:01am | #6

      O.K. I won't say that the grain you pictured is not typical, meaning that I have seen that type of figure sometimes. From my experience that is a flat sawn board with wide growth rings.

       I've found better figure a few times but usually it is much more plane boring figure.

      Two years ago I did a bedroom  out of this stuff. One board was a sort of wavey curley figure, really wonderful. I used it as secondary wood because it didn't match any of the other boards.

       Have a look at it before you buy.I've only used about 3 or 4 cubic meters of this wood so I'm not really an expert.

                                                                  Philip