American Beech

Grain is usually straight, but can be irregular. Has a medium to coarse texture. Heartwood tends to be darker than temperate walnut species, with a deep chocolate brown color, sometimes with a purplish hue. Peruvian Walnut is rated as moderately durable in terms of decay resistance, though it is susceptible to insect attack. Typically easy to work provided the grain is straight and regular.

Grain is straight, with a coarse, uneven texture, Heartwood is a light to medium brown, commonly with a reddish cast. Paler sapwood is not always sharply demarcated from the heartwood. Quartersawn sections display prominent ray fleck patterns. Rated as non-durable to perishable, with poor insect resistance. Can become discolored and stained when in contact with water, Produces good results with hand and machine tools, though it has fairly high shrinkage values, resulting in mediocre dimensional stability, especially in flat sawn boards.

Straight, interlocked, irregular or wavy grain. Medium and uniform texture. Hearwood color can vary from pale pinkish brown to darker reddish brown. Color darkens with age. Rot resistance varies on density and growing conditions of the tree. Heartwood is generally resistant to termites, but not other insects. Easy to work with both hand and machine tools, except when working with figured or irregular grain. Sands, turns, glues, stains and finishes well.