American Beech

Fagus grandifolia · Hardwood · North America

Janka 1,300 lbf≈40 lb/ft³ dried (est.)

Properties

Janka hardness	1,300 lbf (5,782 N)
Average dried weight (est.)	40 lb/ft³ (640 kg/m³)
Specific gravity	0.64
Modulus of rupture	14,900 psi (102.7 MPa)
Modulus of elasticity	1.72 million psi (11.86 GPa)
Crushing strength	7,300 psi (50.3 MPa)
Shrinkage — radial	5.5%
Shrinkage — tangential	11.9%
Shrinkage — volumetric	17.2%
Shrinkage T/R ratio	2.2

Values at 12% moisture content, clear-wood averages. Source: USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Wood Handbook FPL-GTR-282 (2021), Table 5–3b p. 5–9; shrinkage Table 4–3 p. 4–8.

American beech is the only beech native to the United States, growing across the eastern third of the country and into adjacent Canada. Its heavy, hard, strong wood is a classic choice for flooring, furniture, and turned woodenware.

Appearance & grain

The sapwood is nearly white and fairly wide, roughly 7 to 13 cm, while the heartwood is reddish brown; in some trees the two are not clearly separated. The wood shows little figure, has a close, uniform texture, and has no characteristic taste or odor.

Workability

Beech machines smoothly and is excellent for turning, and it is highly suitable for steam bending. It shrinks substantially as it dries, so careful drying is required, and it is rather easily treated with preservatives.