American Beech: Fagus grandifolia, Fagaceae

Beech (Fagus spp.) contains eight species which grow in Asia [4], Europe (F. sylvatica), and

North America (F. grandifolia). The word fagus is the classical Latin name, from the Greek

word meaning to eat, in reference to the edible beechnuts. All species look alike microscopically.

Other Common Names: beech, carolina beech, gray beech, red beech, ridge beech, stone beech, white beech, winter beech.

Distribution: American beech grows in southeast Canada and in the eastern half of the United States, from Maine to northern Florida, and west from the Atlantic Coast to Wisconsin, Missouri and Texas.

The Tree: The American beech tree grows in large pure stands and intermixed with sugar maple, yellow birch, American basswood, black cherry, eastern hemlock, eastern white pine, red spruce, sweetgum, Southern magnolia, ashes, hickories and oaks. It grows best in deep, rich, moist, well-drained soils. American beech trees reach heights of 120 ft (37 m), with a diameter of almost 4 ft (1.2 m). The bark is thin, smooth, and gray to blue gray.

General Wood Characteristics: The sapwood of American beech is white with a red tinge, while the heartwood is light to dark reddish brown.

Weighta
Moisture content	Specific gravity	Weight
Moisture content	Specific gravity	lb/ft3	kg/m3
Green	0.56	54	865
12%	0.64	45	721
Ovendry	0.67	NA	NA

aReferences: specific gravity, green and 12%, (98); specific gravity, ovendry, (59); weight, (59).

Mechanical propertiesa

Property	Green			Dry
MOE	1.38 x 106 lbf/in2	9.515 GPa	1.72 x 106 lbf/in2	11.859 GPa
MOR	8.60 x 103 lbf/in2	59.297 MPa	14.9 x 103 lbf/in2	102.736 MPa
C\| \|	3.55 x 103 lbf/in2	24.477 MPa	7.30 x 103 lbf/in2	50.334 MPa
C ⊥	0.54 x 103 lbf/in2	3.723 MPa	1.01 x 103 lbf/in2	6.964 MPa
WML	11.9 in-lbf/in3	82.051 kJ/m3	15.1 in-lbf/in3	104.115 kJ/m3
Hardness	850 lbf	3,780.80 N	1,300 lbf	5782.40 N
Shear\| \|	1.29 x 103 lbf/in2	8.894 MPa	2.01 x 103 lbf/in2	13.858 MPa

aReference (98).

Drying and shrinkagea,b

Type of shrinkage	Percentage of shrinkage (green to final moisture content)
Type of shrinkage	0% MC	6% MC	20% MC
Tangential	11.9	8.8	3.7
Radial	5.5	4.1	1.7
Volumetric	17.2	13.0	5.4

aReferences: 0% MC, (98); 6% and 20% MC, (90).

Kiln drying schedulea
Condition	4/4, 5/4, 6/4 stock	8/4 stock	10/4 stock	12/4 stock	16/4 stock
Standard 1-in. squares 2-in. squares	T8-C2 T8-C3 T5-C2	T5-C1	NA	NA	NA
aReferences (6, 86).

Working Properties: American beech ranks high in holding nails, but it should be pre- bored. The wood wears well and holds a polish, and it bends readily when steamed. Care is needed in gluing, but the wood finishes well with paint or transparent finishes.

Durability: Rated as slightly or nonresistant to heartwood decay.

Preservation: Sapwood and heartwood are permeable when pressure-treated with a compound like creosote. The red heartwood is extremely resistant to penetration.

Uses: Lumber, veneer, charcoal, railroad ties, pulpwood, cooperage, boxes, crates, baskets, pallets, furniture, flooring, sash, doors, trim, paneling, general millwork, woodenware, novelties, handles, brooms and brushes, food containers, turnery, and chemical extracts such as methanol, acetate and wood tar (creosote).

Toxicity: No information available at this time.

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