Beech is one of the most important raw materials for the woodworking industry, including furniture manufacturing, where it is processed both as utility wood and as industrial wood. In addition to Europe, beech is also found in Northeast Asia and North America, where it is also important to the wood industry.
Advantages of beech wood:
● Local wood, good for ecological balance
● Very strong and durable
● Good elasticity
The characteristic color of beech wood is pale yellow to pinkish brown, only slightly darker when exposed to light. Beech wood is characterized by a light yellow to pinkish-brown color that darkens slightly when exposed to light. The grain of beech wood is characterized by a broad vertical grain forming so-called veins (tongue-and-groove). The pores of beech are small and evenly distributed. Older beech wood is slightly darker with a brownish-brown color. Beech wood that is about 100 years old or older forms reddish-brown heartwood, which may be irregularly cloud-like.
Faults of beech wood:
● Easy to split
● Heavy
● Hard to darken
Beech wood is characterized by its very high strength. It warps quickly and has above-average shrinkage. As a result, beech wood is prone to cracking. Untreated beech wood is not weather resistant. However, if the surface is treated with a wood preservative, beech wood will last outdoors in harsh weather conditions. Beech wood is heavy and very hard, but flexible and strong. When used as cushioning material, it is more resilient and can be easily bent. For this reason, beech wood is often used for bending in the furniture industry. [Around 1830, beech wood became a very popular material for the production of bentwood chairs, thanks to the bentwood process developed by Michael Thonet. Beech wood became a very popular material for the production of bentwood chairs. In addition, beech wood is used for parquet flooring, stairs, and interior veneers. Furthermore, due to its excellent heating properties, it is often used for firewood and general kindling.
