American Beech

Straight grain, fine to medium uniform texture. Pale cream color. Venner is slightly darker. Good workability, machines, finishes and glues well. Also good for steam bending. Can have a lot of movement.

Grain is slightly interlocked, producing an irregularly striped ribbon figure on quartersawn surfaces. Medium to fine uniform texture. Heartwood is golden to reddish brown. Fairly well defined sapwood is a contrasting pale brown. Moderate rot and insect resistant.

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.