Common Names:   American red gum Balsamo blanco Bilsted Diquidambo Liquidambar Liquidambo Sap gum Starleaf gum Sweetgum Satin walnut Hazel pine Purchase Gum Red

Mechanical Values

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

Distribution
Sweetgum is reported to occur in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Connecticut, Illinois, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. It is reported to grow primarily in the Mississippi Delta, because of the wet, swampy climate. The tree is reported to be a pioneer after logging, clearing, and in old fields, and is often found in mixed woodlands in moist soils of valleys and lower slopes.

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

Although gum lumber is reported to be available, its supply has dropped because of its low price, which makes it uneconomical to cut. Prices are reported to vary greatly between gum sapwood and heartwood. Figured Red gum from the heartwood, which has a mottled or marbled appearance and a satiny shine, is reported to be highly prized and is usually priced in the valuable range. The price of Sap gum (from the sapwood) is reported to be in the inexpensive pricing range. Sweet gum is reported to be in great demand for furniture in England, France, and Germany.

Properties of the following species in the database are reported to be similar to those of American red gum:
Piquia (Caryocar villosum )

Tree Data
The large tree is reported to often attain a height of 60 to 100 feet (18 to 30 m), with a trunk diameter of 18 to 36 inches (50 to 90 cm). The tree is reported to be a good choice as an ornamental because of its attractive foliage in the Fall season.

Sapwood Color
The wide sapwood (also called sap gum) is creamy white, often with a pinkish tinge. It is often discolored with blue sap stain.

Heartwood Color
The heartwood (or redgum) is much more colorful than the sapwood. It ranges in color from pinkish brown to a deep full-bodied red. Streaks of black may also be present. The heartwood frequently has darker streaks of pigment figure called figured redgum. The figure is reported to be especially prominent in flat sawn timber and rotary cut veneer. 

Grain
The grain is usually interlocked and irregular. Grain irregularity is reported to give quartered material an interesting ribbon-stripe figure, but may also cause distortion during drying. A limited amount of red gum is reported to have an unusual grain pattern, usually referred to as 'flame grain'. The sapwood is reported to have a plain pattern which has been described as watery.

Texture
The wood has a fine, even, and uniform texture.

Luster
The wood surface is reported to exhibit a satiny luster. The nickname Satin walnut for Sweetgum is believed to have come from the beautiful satin-like luster.

Odor
There is no characteristic odor or taste.

Ease of Drying
The timber is reported to dry at a rapid rate, but it requires a lot of attention to prevent degrade.

Drying Defects
Severe drying and wetwood may contribute to surface- and end-checking, honeycombing, collapse, and water pockets during drying. The sapwood is often discolored with blue sap stain.

Kiln Schedules
Sapwood (Sapgum):
T12 - F5 (4/4); T11 - D4 (8/4) US

Heartwood (Redgum):
T8 - C4 (4/4); T5 - C3 (8/4) US

Movement in Service
The wood is reported to be very sensitive to changes in atmospheric conditions, and tends to move considerably in use. Dimensional stability is reported to be better in quartersawn material.

T/R Ratio
1.76
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 heartwood is reported to have very little natural resistance to decay, and is susceptible to attack by insects.

Resistance to Impregnation
The heartwood is moderately resistant to preservative treatment. The sapwood can be impregnated easily.

Gum Deposits
The wood sometimes contains traumatic (wound) gum canals, which are usually filled with white deposits called storax. The gummy deposit is reported to be used as an ingredient in perfumes, adhesives, and salves. 

Veneering Qualities
Much of the wood is reported to be processed into fine cabinet veneers with attractive and differing figures. The veneers have the advantage of responding readily to staining to simulate different woods, such as cherry, maple, oak, or mahogany. Sliced sweet gum veneers are reported to make beautiful wall panelling and decorative veneers.

Cutting Resistance
The wood is reported to be generally easy to work and has low resistance to sawing. Gummy deposits in red gum may cause cutting edges to blunt slightly. 

Blunting Effect
There is only a mild blunting effect on cutting edges because of gummy deposits.

Planing
The wood is reported to plane readily to yield a smooth and shiny finish. (Number of planed pieces without any machining defects out of one hundred = 51).

Turning
American Red Gum is reported to respond well to both hand and machine tools in turning. (Percent of turned pieces with fair to excellent results = 86).

Boring
The timber is reported to respond very well to boring. (Number of pieces out of one hundred producing good to excellent results in boring = 92).

Moulding
Moulding characteristics are reported to be very poor. (Percent of moulded pieces with good to excellent results = 28).

Mortising
Mortising properties are rated as only fair. (Number with fair to excellent results after moulding one hundred pieces = 58).

Sanding
The timber is reported to have very poor sanding properties. (Percent of sanded pieces with good to excellent results = 23).

Gluing
The wood is reported to have good gluing characteristics.

Nailing
Nailing characteristics are rated as good. (Number of pieces free from complete splits after nailing one hundred pieces = 69).

Screwing
The material is reported to screw well. (Percent of pieces free from complete splits = 69).

Polishing
Polishing characteristics are reported to be good.

Staining
The wood is reported to stain well.

Steam Bending
Steam bending characteristics are rated as very poor. (Number of unbroken pieces after steam bending one hundred pieces = 29).

Response to Hand Tools
The wood is reported to work well with hand tools.. 

Comments
The sapwood and heartwood of Sweetgum are usually sold separately. Red gum, sometimes called Hazelwood, is obtained from the heartwood of this unique North American hardwood. The sapwood is often sold under the name, Sap gum in the United States and Hazel pine in the United Kingdom. The Italian market is reported to have accepted American red gum as a substitute for Italian walnut.