Common Names:   American basswood American lime American linden Basswood Beetree Beetree linden Carolina linden Florida basswood Florida linden Limetree Linden Linn White basswood Purchase Basswood

Mechanical Values

Environmental Profile
American basswood is reported to be demonstrably widespread, abundant, and secure globally, although it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery (Source - The Nature Conservancy - Rank of relative endangerment based primarily on the number of occurrences of the species globally).

Distribution
This North American species is reported to be distributed in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan in Canada. Its growth range in the United States is reported to include Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Iowa, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. The tree is reported to prefer moist soils of valleys and uplands and is usually found growing in hardwood forests.

Product Sources
Some material from this species is reported to be available from sustainably managed or other environmentally responsible sources. 

Supplies of American basswood are reported to be abundant in Eastern United States at a relatively low price.

The following species in the database has been suggested as a potential substitute for Basswood:
Obeche (Triplochiton scleroxylon )
Pipli (Bucklandia populnea ) for staining

Properties of the following species in the database are reported to be comparable to those of Basswood:
Amapola (Pseudobombax elipticum )

Tree Data
The large tree, usually with a long trunk, is reported to mature to a height of about 60 to 100 feet (18 to 30 m), with a trunk diameter of about 24 to 36 inches (60 to 90 cm).

Sapwood Color
The sapwood is described as creamy white or pale brown in color and merges somewhat gradually into the heartwood. The sapwood is reported to be sometimes marketed as 'white basswood'.

Heartwood Color
The heartwood ranges in color from creamy-white to pale pinkish-brown. The wood is reported to be similar to European lime (Tilia vulgaris ) in appearance, grain and texture.

Grain
The grain is typically straight, and fine.

Texture
Texture is typically fine and uniform.

Odor
Freshly-milled wood is reported to have a faint distinct odor, especially when wet. There is no characteristic taste. 

Ease of Drying
The wood is reported to dry easily with little degrade.

Drying Defects
Brownish chemical stains may occur in the sapwood of trees from certain areas. The defect may also occur if the wood is dried too slowly. Checking and warping are reported to be slight.

Kiln Schedules
Standard
T12-E7(4/4);T10-E6 (8/4) US
Lighter Colored Stock
T9-E7 (4/4); T7-E6 (8/4) US 

Movement in Service
Seasoned wood is reported to be dimensionally stable, and holds its place well in use.

T/R Ratio
1.40
This indicator is more meaningful if it is used together with other drying information and actual shrinkage data in the tangential and radial directions. (Refer to the Numerical Values window).

Natural Durability
The wood is reported to have little natural resistance to attack by fungi and other wood destroying organisms. Logs are susceptible to attack by the longhorn beetle while the sapwood is prone to attack by the common furniture beetle.

Resistance to Impregnation
The wood is reported to be responsive to treatment, but its normal uses usually does not require it to be treated. 

Blunting Effect
Blunting effect on cutting tools is rated as slight.

Cutting Resistance
The wood is reported to cut and saw without difficulty.

Planing
Planing operations are reported to be rather easy, but the wood is soft and requires sharp tools for best results.

Turning
The material turns fairly easily, and turned surfaces are generally clean.

Moulding
The wood is reported to require care in moulding operations.

Boring
The material responds readily to very sharp machine tools to yield clean surfaces in boring operations.

Mortising
Mortising operations are reported to be relatively easy, but it requires some care for good results.

Carving
Basswood is reported to be a popular choice among hobbyist for modelling ships, airplanes, and wood sculpturing.

Gluing
The wood has good gluing properties. 

Nailing
Basswood nails easily but nail-holding qualities are rated as only fair since the wood is soft.

Screwing
The wood is reported to have satisfactory screw-holding characteristics.

Sanding
Sanding properties are reported to be fair.

Polishing
Polishing properties are reported to be generally good.

Staining
Staining is reported to be less than satisfactory because of the soft texture of the wood.

Varnishing
Varnishing qualities are reported to be generally good.

Painting
Basswood is reported to respond well to enamel.

Steam Bending
The material has very poor steam bending properties. 

Response to Hand Tools
Response to hand tools is reported to be very good.

Strength Properties
Bending strength in the air-dried condition (about 12% moisture content) is medium, but lower than Mahogany, and much lower than White oak. It is weak in compression parallel to grain (maximum crushing strength). It is not hard and can be dented and marred easily. Weight and density are moderate. 

Comments
Basswood is described as clean, attractive in appearance, light in weight, and free from odor, qualities which make it a primary choice for food containers.