beachwood

Description: The color is light cream with darker heartwood, something between maple and ash. The grain is short, mostly straight, with fine, even texture. Physical Properties: Dense, heavy and hard yet somewhat brittle due to its short grain. Very gentle on the knife's edge, it becomes an obvious choice of cutting boards, chopping blocks and butcher-block counter tops.

Working Properties: Beech wood machines very well and has an exceptional stain acceptance. Split along the grain, so pre-drilling is a must for nails and wood screws. Beech wood came to be used for building water wheels and underwater ship elements when white oak or other traditional water-resistant wood was not available.

Seasoning: Dries rapidly with little degradation. Moderate movement.

Uses: European beech wood came to be used for building water wheels and underwater ship elements when white oak or other traditional water-resistant wood was not available, cabinet work, high-class joinery, plywood, paneling and veneer.