GK Woodworking

Quality Softwoods and Hardwoods, Custom Handcrafted Furniture, and

Built to order Greenhouses

Gary Levy

Phone: 860-376-4387

Fax: 860-376-3889

Email address: Gary@GKWoodworking.com

Basswood (Tilia americana)

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The sapwood of basswood is usually quite large and creamy white in color, merging into the heartwood which is pale to reddish brown, sometimes with darker streaks. The wood has a fine uniform texture and indistinct grain that is straight.

WORKING PROPERTIES
Basswood machines well and is easy to work with hand tools making it a premier carving wood. It nails, screws, and glues fairly well and can be sanded, and stained, to a good smooth finish. It dries fairly rapidly with little distortion or degrade. It has fairly high shrinkage but good dimensional stability when dry.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
The wood is light and soft with generally low strength properties and a poor steam-bending classification.

MAIN USES

Basswood lumber is used mainly in venetian blinds, sashes and door frames, moulding, apiary supplies, wooden ware, and boxes. Some basswood is cut for veneer, cooperage,

excelsior, and pulpwood, and it is a favorite of wood carvers.