Beech: the party hardwood

NIQUE for its chips being used in the brewing and aging of a popular beer, beech is also used in many other applications.

Major uses include furniture, boxes, millwork, flooring, woodenware, novelties, truck body parts, toys, dowels, bobbins, spools, ties, and a multitude of other turnings.

The hardwood, which is occasionally marketed as red and white beech depending on its color, has a reddishbrown heartwood with a thin pale sapwood. The unique sapwood gives the hardwood its distinct light appearance.

The wood has a straight, close, interlocking grain that is porous. It is strong, shock resistant, and readily bends under steam. It also holds nails well, although it has a tendency to split.

It takes paint, stain and bleach well. The hardwood is ranked above average in its planing and shaping qualities.

It is heavier than other hardwoods, with an an average density of 45 lb./cu. ft. and requires care in work- ing. It has a tendency to shrink and requires careful drying to prevent splitting and distortion.

Similar to oak in strength, beech readily absorbs preservatives, but is not considered particularly decay resistant.

A

Very Slow Growing

tree, it may require up to 200 years to reach saw timber size in the northern limits of its range.

It falls between sycamore and hard maple in hardness.

The most common species found in the Appalachian area, Southern regions and throughout the eastern United States, except for southern Florida, is the American beech tree (fagus grandifolia). The Carolina beech, Fagus grandifu lia caroliniana, is a less common species.

In the Appalachian area, it is often found growing in pure stands on the lower east and northern slopes of the mountains and its unique gray color makes it noticeable along the mountainside.

It grows best in parts of the country that are well-drained, but not on lands worked over long periods or on swamps.

A very slow growing tree, it may require up to 200 years to reach saw timber size (14"-16") in the northern limits of its range.

In the South, the growing time is cut in half because of the longer growing seasons.

In size, beech, also known as sweet beech, is about average with other sawn logs, reaching heights ranging from 80'-120' with trunks 3'-4' in diameter.

Similar to plain sawn sycamore, beech contains less crowded and smaller pith rays. It can be difficult identifying it after it is cut.

Reprints of 55 of the most popular "Hardwood Series" articles are available for $30.00 postpaid from The Merchant Magazine, 4500 Campus Dr., Suite 480, Newport Beach, Ca. 92660. For more information, call David Koenig at (714) 852-1990.

Personals

(Continuedfrom p. 29)

Sara Kendall. director-environmental affairs, Weyerhaeuser, Federal Way, Wa., received the first Environmental Manager of the Year Award from the Environmental Resource Center.

Paul N. Schwartz, president, Maxxam, Houston, Tx., has been elected a director. Stanley D. Rosenberg and Robert J. Cruikshank were re-elected.

Kelly Moffatt, Unique Machine & Tool, Phoenix, Az., was elected Wood Machinery Manufacturers of America v.p. Ed Fiantaca, Accurate Technology, Kirkland, Wa., is a new director.

Joe Thompson, Bruce Hardwood Floors, was named divisional sales mgr. for the western and south central regions. Steve Keith is western regional mgr.

Gene Sabatino has been appointed sales mgr. for Chemcrest Architectural Products, serving the West Coast.

Kent Boyer is now sr. v.p.-operations at Canyon Creek Cabinet, Monroe, Wa.

Clif Hoglund has been appointed director of third party programs at RealWorld.

Ian Stalker, Universal Forest Products, was appointed chair of the American Lumber Standard Committee's treated wood advisory committee.

Duncan Moffat, Henry Co., Huntington Park, Ca., was elected a Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association director, Lee Hedberg, Tivoli Industries, Santa Ana, Ca., was certified by the National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professional.

John Nadon was promoted to v.p. of mktg. at Prescolite Moldcast, San Leandro. Ca.