SYCAMORE: CLEAR PLAIN WHITE: CROWN: B
Sycamore is one of our finest Native Hardwoods offering a consistently white colour in good lengths and width specifications. The main problem with Sycamore is that it should be felled during the winter period whilst the sap is in the root and then sawn, sticked and kiln dried carefully to avoid sticker shadow. To eliminate the sticker shadow problem we have invested in purpose made herringbone shaped plastic stickers which have given excellent results. We have illustrated both Crown cut and Rift and Quartered boards. Normally these are mixed together in an order but should you require these cuts supplied separately or just one type this presents no problem.

Production: T/T, 1/SE, S/E, DIM.

Acer pseudoplatanus
Family: Aceraceae

Other names: Sycamore Plane, Great Maple (UK); Plane (Scotland).

Distribution: Central Europe and the UK. Predominates in the UK in the North of England and Scotland.

General description: White to creamy-white in colour with a natural lustre. It has a uniform straight grain with a fine close, even texture. Quarter sawn stock has a beautiful lacey figure due to conspicuous rays. Average weight about 610 kg/m3 (38lb/ft3); specific gravity 0.61.

Mechanical properties: This excellent wood of medium density has medium bending and crushing strengths, low resistance to shock loads and very low stiffness, and a very good steam bending classification.

Seasoning: We now use purpose made plastic stickers in both the air and kiln drying process. This new innovation has eliminated the need to carry out the expensive end rearing process. It has also made it possible to increase our stockholding in this species. We can guarantee our stock will be free from sticker marks/shadow. In Yorkshire we have ideal winter conditions for the initial air drying stage with freezing cold nights which draw the moisture out of the planking, then warm sunny days which melts and evaporates the frozen moisture from the face of the boards.

Working properties: Works easily with hand or machine tools, and provides a fine, smooth finish. If a stained finish is required care must be taken to avoid the stain taking in patches. There is a moderate blunting effect on tools. Nails, glues, stains and polishes excellently.

Durability: Perishable sapwood is liable to insect attack but it is permeable to preservative treatment.

Uses: In the past it has been used for woodware, turnery, brush handles, bobbins, textile rollers and applications where the timber is in contact with food such as butchers blocks and food containers. It is now becoming popular for use in fine cabinet work, furniture and high quality joinery. When chemically treated into shades of silver grey it is sold commercially as Harewood and is sometimes steamed or treated to change colour into a pink or mid-brown and sold as Weathered Sycamore. It is also the best veneer for processing into dyed veneers in a range of colours including dyed black as a substitute for Ebony.

JBT Comments: The demand on the continent, particularly Germany, for Sycamore veneer logs has meant that many of our finest logs are exported leaving most sawmills in the UK with only saw quality logs. Our policy of sawing all logs including veneer quality, enables us to offer one of the finest stocks of kiln dried Sycamore planking available in the UK. With the continued increase in both price and demand for American Hard Maple making it uneconomical to use this species in many applications we have a very suitable alternative species in our own Native Sycamore. Our recent innovation into using purpose made plastic stickers for all our Sycamore production has eliminated the need to carry out the expensive and time consuming process of end rearing, which in turn has increased our production capacity of this species. In addition to our log sawn through and through and one square edged stock we offer random square edged and sawn to width dimensions produced at our mill. The grade of our random square edged production is equivalent to and in the main better than the No. 1 and No. 2 white production in American Hard Maple. It is also cheaper than American Hard Maple and available in good length and width specifications.
An intermediate grade, which is equivalent to No. 1 Common in Hard Maple is available in both log sawn through and through, one square edge and random square edge stock. We guarantee our stock to be free from penetrating sticker marks. Please ensure when making price comparisons that the stock you are purchasing has the same guarantees.

Squares: Sycamore is proving to be very cost effective when used as an alternative to Mahogany and other species where large section timber is required, it is free from major defect and will take a stain. In principle our 3ins and 4ins squares are reasonably free from colour and are of first quality whereas our 5ins, 6ins and 7ins squares may include colour and some sound knots. Offered as kiln dried stock, however these may not be totally dry in the centre of large sections. Larger dimensions can be sawn to order.

Grade: First quality, selected and produced to customers requirements. Lower grades are available to order all as illustrated on pages 104 to 109 of our catalogue.

Specification: a) Through and through, and/or one square edge; 7ft and longer, average 8ft. 6ins and wider, average 8ins. b) One square edge, resawn after kilning; 6ft and longer, average 7ft. 5ins and wider, average 7ins. c) Square edge, resawn after kilning; 5ft and longer, average 6ft. 4ins and wider, average 6ins.

Stockholding: 4,000 cubic feet in kiln dried stock; 1in to 4ins thickness.

SYCAMORE, FIGURED/FIDDLEBACK/RIPPLE

It is Sycamore with an even mass of ripple grain running at right angles to the grain of the wood. The size of the ripple and amount of ripple can vary from log to log. Precisely what causes the ripple remains a mystery, though there are many theories. Much sought after for musical instrument manufacture and veneers. Sadly many of our prime logs are exported to the continent only to be re-imported into the UK in machined musical instrument parts or veneers. Our company policy of not selling our Figured Sycamore logs in the round log form for veneer production enables us to offer one of the most extensive and finest stocks of figured/ripple Sycamore planking available in the UK.

Grade: First quality, selected and produced to customers requirements. Lower grades from second tree lengths are available to order.

Specification: a) Through and through and/or one square edge; 6ft and longer, average 8ft. 6ins and wider, average 7ins. b) One square edge, resawn after kilning; 5ft and longer, average 7ft. 4ins and wider, average 6ins. c) Square edge, resawn after kilning; 4ft and longer, average 6ft. 3ins and wider, average 5ins. d) One square edge, quarter sawn; 4ft and longer, average 6ft. 3ins and wider, average 5ins. Although we offer quarter sawn stock, we cannot guarantee this production is suitable for any specific application i.e. musical instrument parts.

Stockholding: 2,000 cubic feet in kiln dried stock; 1in to 4ins thickness.
During the winter felling season we hold over 1,000 cubic feet of round logs available for sawing and kilning to customers requirements. We are also able to quarter saw providing that suitable large logs are available.