European Beech
Fagus sylvatica
European Beech is a classic temperate hardwood valued for its excellent steam bending properties and uniform texture. It is the wood of choice for bentwood chairs and has been a staple of European furniture making for centuries. The wood steams to a warm reddish color and works beautifully with hand and machine tools.
Botanical Profile
Fagus sylvatica is a large deciduous tree native throughout Europe, typically reaching 25-35 meters in height. It features smooth gray bark and produces edible beechnuts. The tree forms dominant canopy in many European forests and can live for 200-300 years in favorable conditions.
Physical Properties
The heartwood is pale cream to pinkish brown, darkening to warm reddish tones when steamed. It has a fine, even texture with straight grain and prominent ray figure. Dried weight averages 720 kg/m³ with a Janka hardness of 1,300 lbf. The wood is strong and responds exceptionally well to steam bending.
Workshop Notes
Blunting Effect
Moderate - hard wood wears tools
Gluing Advice
Excellent gluing properties
Finishing
Takes stains and finishes beautifully; steams to attractive reddish color
Steam Bending
Excellent - the premier wood for steam bending
Historical Context
European Beech has been used in furniture making since medieval times. Thonet revolutionized chair production in the 1850s using steam-bent beech. The wood remains essential for European furniture, flooring, and the production of bentwood chairs and other curved components.
Technical Specs
Sustainable, abundant in European forests