American Beech
Fagus grandifolia · Hardwood
- Type
- Hardwood
- Origin
- Eastern North America
- Hardness
- 1,300 lbf (Hard)
- Durability
- Non-durable; susceptible to insect attack and rapid decay when exposed to moisture.
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Grain Pattern
Straight grain with a fine, uniform texture. Distinctive prominent wood rays visible as short dark dashes or flecks on the face grain.
Color & Appearance
Pale cream to pinkish-brown heartwood with little visible distinction from the sapwood. Deepens to a warmer golden-brown or amber color over time when exposed to light.
Hardness (Janka)
1,300 lbf (Hard)
Durability & Decay Resistance
Non-durable; susceptible to insect attack and rapid decay when exposed to moisture.
Value & Sustainability
- Estimated Market Value
- $3.00 to $5.00 per board foot (Domestic hardwood, generally inexpensive and readily available).
- Wood Age Estimate
- Recently milled or fresh lumber (under 5 years old based on lack of heavy oxidation).
- Sustainability Status
- Least concern (IUCN), widely abundant and sustainable, not listed on CITES.
Common Uses
Furniture, flooring, cabinetry, tool handles, turned objects, veneer, and woodenware.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Workability
Generally easy to work with both hand and machine tools, though it burns easily during routing or sawing if feed rates are too slow. Glues, stains, and finishes well.
Finish Recommendations
Accepts stains, oils, lacquers, and varnishes exceptionally well. Pre-conditioning may help achieve a very even stain absorption due to its fine texture.
Notable Features
Characterized by very distinct, short brown ray flecks (pith flecks or ray dashes) evenly distributed across the surface, giving it a characteristic speckled appearance when quartered.
