Colour/Appearance:

Beech wood is typically a pale cream colour, sometimes with a pink or brown hue. Veneer tends to be slightly dark coloured, as slicing the veneer usually requires the wood to be prepared with steam, which gives the wood a more golden tone. Flat sawn surfaces tend to be very plain, while quarter sawn surfaces exhibit a silvery fleck pattern.

Grain/Texture:

Grain is straight, with a fine to medium uniform texture.

Workability:

Overall good workability; it machines well, and glues, finishes, and turns well. Beech also responds superbly to steam-bending. It does, however, have a large amount of movement in service, so movement and wood stability must be taken into account.

Odor:

No characteristic odor.

Sustainability:

This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Common Uses: Lumber, veneer, flooring, boatbuilding, furniture, cabinetry, musical instruments (piano pin blocks), plywood, and turned objects.