I have a chance to get my hands on some 8/4 quartered American Sycamore at a good price. I am looking to make a dining room table. Having never worked with it I could use some input.
Does it machine and finish well? What about movement and stability?
Let me know your thoughts.
Replies
Pino, sycamore has outstanding shaping characteristics. In fact it shapes so well it is a popular species for making scrub brush handles...that's the good news. The bad news is it is one of the least stable of all North American hardwoods. Also, it's a moderately soft wood...a few ticks less dense than cherry, so you'd be risking dents, if you were to use it as a table top.
If you do decide to go ahead and use it for making a table, I'd suggest you try to use quartersawn stock. It will be a little more stable and the ray dominated figure in quartersawn sycamore is absolutely beautiful. Also, you might be able to improve its rersistance to denting by burying the surface in multiple coats of a hard polyurethane varnish. At least that's one application where polyurethane has some merit.
Edited 2/2/2004 9:37:27 PM ET by Jon Arno
Thank you Jon.
The stock I have access to is all 8/4 quartersawn with most pieces running 8" wide in the rough. Although i was looking to use this for a new dining table, I am hesitant given your oinfo on its softness. I have three young children, so durability is a plus.
That said, I sure love the look of this stuff quartersawn. Reminds me a bit of lacewood. I may give it a try and use the dreaded poly.
Thanks again.
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