White european beech – waxy surface??
Hi All,
Just a quick post to see if anyone can shed any light on a curiosity.
I’m working european beech for the first time here. I’ve got a few highly figured 4′ boards and a ‘coodja’ to make (family job – here’s timber, coodja make me …….).
I’ve flattenned these boards (all handwork at home) and notice that the face grain only has a very waxy feel to it. The ‘wax’ transferred to my hands also.
Has anyone out there ever noticed this before?
Before anyone asks the obvious question, the plane had a small amount of wax on the toe, but this usually gets sliced off and disappears with the shaving. I do this regularly and have never noticed this effect before, so I’m confident it’s not technique. On further reflection, this waxy feel was present when I used a wooden jointer, before I started with the metal plane, so the problem is not related to wax on the sole of the plane
As well, the timber was kiln dried and sat around for 2 years before it was used, so it’s probably safe to say that it was dry and at equilibrium moisture content (35mm thick)
I also found it curious that it’s on one face only.
Cheers,
eddie
ps: (edit) timber is definitely european beech – compared to tools I have made from beech and the fact that the timber came from a reputable supplier, I’m 100% confident of the species.
Edited 4/30/2003 4:26:55 PM ET by eddie (aust)
Replies
I use beech here a good bit and have never noticed anything of that sort.Could it be a treatment given to the wood to help stabilize it? Over all it's a great wood to work with but here it's just too common to use for fine furniture.
Philip
Eddie, the beeches (Fagus) and their Southern Hemisphere cousins (Nothofagus) are not naturally waxy woods. The heartwood contains relatively few extractives, most noteworthy; a number of phenols. In fact, beech heartwood even lacks the tannin found in their oak and chestnut relatives and consequently it doesn't have much durability (decay resistance.)
Given the fact that the waxiness is on only one face, I think the odds are it's something that has been introduced into the wood. If it is a wax, somebody waxed it.
Thanks Jon/Phillip,
It goes in a few mm - I'll keep on planing down until it disappears.
Jon, I'm slowly working away at that information you wanted. Should be in the mail in a couple of weeks.
eddie
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