Sycamore can also be … Likewise the American sycamore provides food for many species of moths, leafhoppers, and other insects — who, though they may be damaging in some instances, are frequently also decomposers and pollinators. In order to be stable the wood must be quartersawn. 1.610.932.7400 / Int’l & Local Even though it isn’t supposed to, the alcohol-based dye I used for the checkerboard did raise the grain more than I expected. Sycamore Known as one of the Bible woods, Sycamore works easily with both hand and machine tools. Its sapwood runs creamy-white to tan, while its heartwood is a darker reddish brown. Often, the wood has served more humbly for items such as pallets, which don’t require. The American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), also called buttonwood, is native to the southeastern United States, growing along lowland streams and rivers. Sycamores (Plantanus occidentalis) and cottonwoods (Populus deltoides) are different species of trees. These days, nearly all commercially available sycamore lumber is quartersawn. You know you are near water when you a see a group of sycamores. Inspect and flex suspicious boards to make sure they won’t snap or split during machining or afterwards in use. There are 2097 sycamore wood for sale on Etsy, and they cost $32.28 on average. It’s botanical name is a combination of Greek and Dead Latin. It produces slightly less than oak or ash trees. As seen in the gameboard on page 47, you can often incorporate both sapwood and heartwood into your glue-ups by carefully matching edges. It contrasts well with other species. GENERAL DESCRIPTION The sapwood is white to light yellow, while the heartwood is light-to-dark brown. For a wood that is visually about as exciting as white bread, it wasn’t worth the effort. It has a distinct modular ray that reveals its fleck in the quarter-sawing process, and unlike the more commonly … Planatos (plane) was a … – but less so for furniture and the like, primarily because the wood is very coarse and tough to work. The sapwood is white to light tan, while the heartwood … Color/Appearance: Similar to maple, the wood of Sycamore trees is predominantly comprised of the sapwood, with some darker heartwood streaks also found in most boards. Quartersawn sycamore displays a beautifully flecked pattern reminiscent of lacewood. Planetree, American planetree, buttonball tree Uses Industry: American sycamore is grown in short-rotation plantations primarily for pulp and it also is used for rough lumber. Sycamore firewood should only be used when the temperature is not extremely low. The American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) is a fast-growing deciduous tree hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 4 through 9. Although not as widely available as red oak and other more commercial species, sycamore is stocked by many lumber yards and online dealers who cater to small shops. Although few woodworkers become acquainted with the … A mature American sycamore is beautiful, with its large crown of maple-like leaves and mottled, white and green-gray exfoliating bark. However, sycamore is not right for all situations. Old sycamore trees frequently were hollow, providing a handy frontier stable for settlers' livestock. Please Note: If you are planning a visit to Hearne Hardwoods to view the live-edge slabs, we ask that you call ahead with a list of the slabs you would like to see. Sycamore "Somewhat durable and simlar in weight to mahogany. Other than its occasional use as a secondary wood in some old pieces, sycamore doesn’t have much of a pedigree in furniture making. One reason is that plainsawn sycamore doesn’t dry well, twisting and bowing significantly unless preventative measures are taken. It is used by woodworkers making high-end furniture or for … Sycamore works well with both hand and power tools, although interlocking grain can make surfacing troublesome, particularly when hand-planing. Pullman train cars were even paneled with it. This tree possesses all the characteristics ne… However, sawyers eventually discovered that quartersawing sycamore essentially converts it into a “domestic exotic” with a flecked figure that rivals many overseas imports, and at a much better price. The wood is a consistent pale color and the quarter sawn surfaces exhibit an attractive mottled figure. The heavy, close-grained wood … Most recently, I selected it as the wood for the gameboards shown on the cover of this issue and featured in the story on page 47. As of this writing, American sycamore is not listed in the CITES Appendices, indicating that the current population is not under threat. View Our Woods Next time, I intend to raise the grain several times before adding color. The sycamore With their distinctive scaly, pale gray/greenish bark, sycamores can loom ghostly, particularly when naked in wintertime. Light and dark light. With over 100 species of domestic and exotic hardwood lumber in stock, Hearne Hardwoods is one of the largest specialty lumberyards in the world. Saturday / 8am-4pm EST These trees are beautiful and strong, and after about 6 – 7 years, flowers will appear with the leaves during the springtime. Our products include logs, live edge boards, lumber, guitar parts, veneer, flooring and much more. We will then schedule an appointment and have the slabs out of storage and ready for you to view. Sycamore is relatively poor firewood. For years it was used as a secondary wood—for drawer sides, web frames, etc.—if it was processed into furniture … The American sycamore is a favored food plant of the pest sycamore leaf beetle. American sycamore is something of a sleeper as far as native hardwoods go. Sycamore is a hardwood and as such produces a moderate amount of heat. |. Other names for sycamores include … Saturday / 8am-4pm EST Sycamore trees have seed balls which are soft and don’t hurt if you step on them. WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE: American sycamore is a valuable timber tree; its wood is hard, with a twisted and coarse grain, but not very strong [13,30,76].It is used for furniture, interior trim, boxes, pulpwood, and particle and fiber board [13,30].Carey and Gill [] rated American sycamore as only fair (their lowest rating) for fuelwood.American sycamore … Be aware that because sycamore has little to no rot resistance and is very susceptible to insect attack, it’s a poor choice for outdoor projects. The sycamore of the Bible is better termed sycamore fig (Ficus sycamorus; see also fig), notable for its use by ancient Egyptians to make mummy cases. Sycamore trees can grow to be one of the biggest domestic timbers in North America and are often left to grow to full maturity because the wood is very difficult to split for firewood and most sawmills don’t quarter saw. It might seem counterintuitive, but the low angle of the blade’s attack, combined with a tight throat opening virtually eliminated the trouble I was having with the interlocked grain. Sycamore was once considered one of the most promising hardwood plantation species in the southeastern United States. (Though it is not uncommon to also see entire boards of heartwood too.) It's fine and even textured, and quite … I might compare its overall working qualities to poplar or even soft maple. A list and an appointment will save you a significant amount of time. The sycamore shows the process more openly than many other trees. They prefer uncrowded conditions, and frequently line stream and riverbanks. I prefer the Rice figure but some love the big … Sycamore finishes easily with all common finishes, both oil and water-based. American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) grows throughout the eastern United States and is most likely the species you’ll find sold as sycamore. With all the figure Quartered Sycamore has in one square inch, it’s the best bargain in figured lumber. Sycamore trees can grow to be one of the biggest domestic timbers in North America and are often left to grow to full maturity because the wood is very difficult to split for … I use a lot of quartersawn sycamore in my work. This is one of our locally grown North American species. It has been called the 'Ghost tree of the forest' due to the unique appearance of its bark. Sycamore The hardwood giant of the virgin forest. Sycamore is a monoecious tree with male and female reproductive parts on the same tree, allowing self-fertilization. Due to the color difference between the heart and sapwood, you’ll want to be able to carefully select boards, particularly if you plan to edge-glue them to make up wider panels. Log In. 1.888.814.0007 / Toll Free (USA) In that case, try planing diagonally to the grain or use a sharp scraper instead. European “sycamore” and a variety of Australian trees that carry the name are actually a different genus and species altogether. I switched over to a low-angle jack plane, and found it worked better. As an important bonus, it’s also very stable. Sunday / Closed, View Our Products Talarico says American sycamore is not a commercial hardwood, and is more likely to be found at specialty lumber outlets. Subscribe to the newsletter and get 10% off your next purchase in addition to the latest products, guides and project ideas. As a young seedling, sycamore quickly outcompetes all but the fastest-growing species, such as eastern cottonwood and black willow. The wood has a fine, close texture with interlocked grain. Fine Furniture, Cabinetry, Architectural Millwork, Guitar Building / Instrument Making, Wood Turning, Boat Building, Wood Carving, Automotive / Aircraft Interior, Inlaying, Box Making, Timber Framing and many other uses. When working with spalted stock, keep in mind that sycamore is not a particularly strong wood to begin with, and once it begins to decay it can become brittle and weak. American sycamore, buttonwood, American planetree, buttonball, water beech, ghost wood HEIGHT/WEIGHT Average height is 120 feet but trees can be as tall as 175 feet. Note that, in addition to occidentalis, there are five other species of sycamore in the country, including Arizona Sycamore (Platanus wrightii) and California sycamore (Platanus racemosa), which you may stumble across regionally. The amount emitted is comparable to varieties such as red maple, elm or walnut. The branches and leaves are eaten by white-tailed deer, the wood … Terms, Hearne Hardwoods Inc. As long as the temperatures are not … The stock I used for the game boards was nice to work with and machined well. It has a low heat output of 20.7 million BTUs per cord of seasoned wood, which is much lower than denser hardwoods like Hickory and Oak. But before plastics became ubiquitous, the lumber was used for myriad utilitarian objects including barber poles, washing machines, lard pails, trunks, and butcher blocks (the wood is very difficult to split). However, as a softer hardwood, it does seem to soak up finish and may require more coats than usual. The explanation is found in the rigid texture of the bark tissue which lacks the elasticity of the bark of some other trees, so it is incapable of stretching to acco… Sycamore, any of several distinct trees. Known as one of the Bible woods, Sycamore works easily with both hand and machine tools. Sycamore’s relatively light color also provides a nice contrast for the dye used to differentiate the checkerboard squares. It is used for furniture in small lumber pieces as the wood is not very strong. Sycamore is a good firewood. The flecks seen in quartersawn stock are readily visible in both the heart and sapwood. It’s also very uncommon and it always makes a statement. The beautiful and majestic American sycamore … Telephone Platanus occidentalis, commonly called sycamore, American sycamore, eastern sycamore, buttonwood or buttonball tree, is generally regarded to be the most massive tree … It does … Common 1 & 2, Select and Better, FAS, Premium (Note all material is quartersawn), Beautiful underappreciated domestic timber, Good for high-end furniture and cabinetry, Has become more appreciated as a tonewood. The bark of all trees has to yield to a growing trunk by stretching, splitting, or infilling. 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