German Beech

European Beech

Veneer, Percussion Instruments, Mouldings, Door frames and Furniture items..

The color is light cream with darker heartwood, something between maple and ash. The grain is short, mostly straight, with fine, even texture. Beech wood imparts definite warmth to the environment and has the ability to make the interior look more spacious. Furniture manufacturers and cabinet makers figured out the trick for quite a while; that’s one of the reasons many pieces of furniture designed for small habitats such as apartments are so often veneered with beech wood. Dense, heavy and hard (1300 on the Janka scale) yet somewhat brittle due to its short grain.

Color/Appearance

Beech is typically a pale cream color, sometimes with a pink or brown hue. Veneer tends to be slightly darker colored, as slicing the veneer usually requires the wood to be prepared with steam, which gives the wood a more golden tone. Flatsawn surfaces tend to be very plain, while quartersawn surfaces exhibit a silvery fleck pattern.

Grain/Texture

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

Rot Resistance

Beech is considered non-durable or perishable; it is also susceptible to insect attack.

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.

Allergies/Toxicity

Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, European Beech has been reported as been reported as a sensitizer. Usually most common reactions simply include eye, skin, and respiratory irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.