Basswood (Tilia americana)

Description: The sapwood of basswood is usually quite large and creamy white in color, merging into the heartwood that is pale to reddish brown, sometimes with darker streaks. The wood has a fine uniform texture and indistinct grain that is straight.

Main Uses: Carvings, turnings, furniture, pattern-making, mouldings, millwork, musical instruments and Venetian blinds and shutters.

Physical Properties: The wood is light and soft with generally low strength properties and a poor steam-bending classification.

Availability: Reasonable availability.

Working Properties: Basswood machines well and is easy to work with hand tools, making it a premier carving wood. It nails, screws, and glues fairly well and can be sanded and stained to a good smooth finish. It dries fairly rapidly with little distortion or degrade. It has fairly high shrinkage but good dimensional stability when dry.

Strength and Mechanical Properties: (inch-pound)

Source:  American Hardwood Information Center, Species Guide