American basswood
Tilia americana
General Description
The sapwood of basswood is usually quite large and creamy white in colour, merging into the heartwood, which is pale to reddish brown, sometimes with darker streaks. The wood has a fine uniform texture and indistinct grain that is straight.
Other Common names
Linden, American whitewood, American linn
Distribution & Availability
Eastern USA, principally the Northern and Lake States, where there is reasonable availability as lumber and veneer. Lumber is produced in a range of thicknesses, specifications and grades, although volumes may be limited.
Physical & Mechanical Properties
The wood is light and soft with generally low strength properties and a poor steam bending classification.
American basswood - Physical & Mechanical Properties
| Specific Gravity (12% M.C.): | 0.37 |
| Average Weight (12% M.C.): | 417 kg/m3 |
| Average Volume Shrinkage (Green to 6% M.C.): | 12.60% |
| Modulus of Rupture: | 59.987 MPa |
| Modulus of Elasticity: | 10,067 MPa |
| Compressive strength (parallel to grain): | 32.613 MPa |
| Hardness: | 1824 N |
Working Properties
Basswood machines well and is easy to work with hand tools making it a premier carving wood. It nails, screws, and glues fairly well and can be sanded, stained, and polished to a good smooth finish. It dries fairly rapidly with little distortion or degrade. It has a fairly large shrinkage but good dimensional stability when dry.
American basswood - Working Properties
| Sawing | Good |
| Planing | Good |
| Drilling | Good |
| Boring | Good |
| Turning | Good |
| Carving | Excellent |
| Moulding | Good |
| Nailing | Fair |
| Screwing | Fair |
| Gluing | Fair |
| Finishing | Excellent |
Main Uses
Carving, turning, furniture, pattern-making, mouldings, interior joinery and musical instruments. An important specialised use is Venetian blinds or internal window shutters.
American basswood - Main Uses
| Doors | |
| Flooring | |
| Furniture | ✓ |
| Joinery | ✓ |
| Kitchen cabinets | ✓ |
| Mouldings and turnings | ✓ |
| Veneered panels | ✓ |
| Sports goods | |
| Tool handles |
Other Information
Often produced in 9/4 (57.15mm) thickness for venetian blinds. Pin knots and light brown mineral streaks are a natural characteristic and not considered a defect.
Select your species
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American alder
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American ash
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American aspen
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American basswood
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American beech
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American yellow birch
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American cherry
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American cottonwood
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American elm
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American gum
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American hackberry
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American hickory & pecan
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American hard maple
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American soft maple
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American red oak
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American white oak
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American sycamore
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American tulipwood
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American walnut
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American willow
