Hardwood · Eastern North America
American Beech
Fagus grandifolia
Pale tan with fine flecks.
Janka hardness1,300 lbf
Density (12% MC)45.0 lb/ft³
Weight per board foot3.8 lb
Rot resistanceLow
Workability3/5
Price$$
Hardness compared
White pine
Yellow Poplar
Black Cherry
Red Oak
American Beech
Hard Maple
Shagbark Hickory
Jatoba
Working with American Beech
Steam bends superbly. Moves a lot seasonally — let it acclimate before final dimensioning.
Typical uses: Workbenches, hand planes, chairs, steam-bent parts.
Seasonal movement
| Tangential coefficient (flatsawn) | 0.00431 per 1% MC |
|---|---|
| Radial coefficient (quartersawn) | 0.00190 per 1% MC |
| T/R ratio | 2.27 (prone to cupping when flatsawn) |
| 12" flatsawn board, 6% → 11% MC | 0.259" (≈ 6.6 mm) |