AMERICAN BASSWOOD: A
One of the finest hardwoods suitable for carving, similar to Native Lime.

Production: S/E.

Tilia americana
Family:Tiliaceae

Commercial names: American Lime (U.K.); American Whitewood (U.S.A.).

Other names: Lime Tree, American Linden, Whitewood (U.S.A.).

Distribution: East coast of Canada and eastern U.S.A. More than half the total yield comes from the Great Lake States.

General description: Creamy-white to pale pinkish-brown, straight grained with a fine, even texture due to uniform growth and lack of contrast between early and latewood zones. Weighs about 416 kg/m3 (26lb/ft3)' specific gravity 0.41.

Mechanical properties: This soft, light wood is weak and has a poor steam bending classification and very low strength properties.

Seasoning: Dries fairly rapidly with little distortion or degrade and with very little movement in service.

Working properties: Basswood works extremely easily with both hand and power tools, with low resistance to cutting and only a slight blunting effect on tools. It nails, screws and glues well and can be stained and polished without difficulty.

Durability: The timber is non-durable. Logs are liable to attack by longhorn beetle and the sapwood by common furniture beetle. The wood is permeable for preservation treatment.

Uses: Hand carving, turnery, pattern making, drawing boards, piano keys, bee-hives, louvres, mallet heads, picture framing, match splints, wood wool, cooperage, high-class joinery, toys, constructional veneer and plywood, corestock for panels, chip baskets, small laminated articles, boxes, crates, laundry and dairy appliances. As it is free from odour it is also used for food
containers.

JBT Comments: Basswood is an excellent substitute for European Lime. In America it is one of the most popular timbers for carving decoy ducks. With the marked increase in the popularity of wood carving we have taken this timber into stock being ideal for both professional and beginners to the craft.

Grade: Export Grade 80% FAS. 20% FAS IF or better.

Specification: Square edge; 8ft and longer, 5ins and wider, allowing up to 10% 6ft/7ft and/or 4ins.

Stockholding: Available to order 1in to 4ins thickness, normally 4/6 weeks.