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. Business Hours Other than its occasional use as a secondary wood in some old pieces, sycamore doesn’t have much of a pedigree in furniture making. With over 100 species of domestic and exotic hardwood lumber in stock, Hearne Hardwoods is one of the largest specialty lumberyards in the world. These trees are beautiful and strong, and after about 6 – 7 years, flowers will appear with the leaves during the springtime. high-grade stock. 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 finishes easily with all common finishes, both oil and water-based. Sycamore firewood should only be used when the temperature is not extremely low. For years it was used as a secondary wood—for drawer sides, web frames, etc.—if it was processed into furniture … European “sycamore” and a variety of Australian trees that carry the name are actually a different genus and species altogether. Inspect and flex suspicious boards to make sure they won’t snap or split during machining or afterwards in use. 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 … Sycamores (Plantanus occidentalis) and cottonwoods (Populus deltoides) are different species of trees. Our products include logs, live edge boards, lumber, guitar parts, veneer, flooring and much more. The wood is a consistent pale color and the quarter sawn surfaces exhibit an attractive mottled figure. Sunday / Closed, View Our Products The only real problem I experienced was a tendency toward tearout when hand-planing with my trusty, old Bailey #5 bench plane. It is used by woodworkers making high-end furniture or for … The wood is milled into thin narrow layers and the bark into strips to make woven baskets and other decorative objects. I switched over to a low-angle jack plane, and found it worked better. This table lamp is a nice pairing of tawny quartersawn sycamore and black walnut. Quartersawn sycamore displays a beautifully flecked pattern reminiscent of lacewood. Sycamore, any of several distinct trees. 1.610.932.3130 / Fax, Monday-Friday / 8am-5pm EST Sycamore can also be … 10% OFF + FREE SHIPPING* ON POWERMATIC DUST COLLECTION. Sycamore "Somewhat durable and simlar in weight to mahogany. Sycamore wood has a wide and twisting grain structure and is commonly used to manufacture decorative goods. Noteworthy Characteristics. 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. 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 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 … In the United States it refers especially to the American plane tree (Platanus occidentalis). Sycamore Known as one of the Bible woods, Sycamore works easily with both hand and machine tools. They prefer uncrowded conditions, and frequently line stream and riverbanks. Quartersawn stock is a good choice for a panel such as this, which must remain flat without a frame or battens to restrain cupping. 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. American Sycamore, Platanus occidentalis, is a member of the Platanaceae family. Oxford PA, 19363 USA, © 2020 Hearne Hardwoods, Inc. | All rights reserved. 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 trees produce vibrant green leaves in summer. Pullman train cars were even paneled with it. Even though it isn’t supposed to, the alcohol-based dye I used for the checkerboard did raise the grain more than I expected. Plain or spectacular, it depends on the cut, American sycamore is something of a sleeper as far as native hardwoods go. Its sapwood runs creamy-white to tan, while its heartwood is a darker reddish brown. You must be logged in to write a comment. 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. 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. Along with its distinctive flecked appearance, I like that it is a native species, isn’t remotely endangered, and is relatively inexpensive. It has a distinct modular ray that reveals its fleck in the quarter-sawing process, and unlike the more commonly … |. 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. Sycamore is a hardwood and as such produces a moderate amount of heat. It contrasts well with other species. The sapwood is white to light tan, while the heartwood … Sycamore produces beautiful quartersawn lumber in a color range from light tan to an orange brown. With their distinctive scaly, pale gray/greenish bark, sycamores can loom ghostly, particularly when naked in wintertime. Other names for sycamores include … Often, the wood has served more humbly for items such as pallets, which don’t require. The branches and leaves are eaten by white-tailed deer, the wood … Stable the wood is very coarse and tough to work with and machined well attractive mottled.. Lumber, guitar parts, veneer, flooring and much more or infilling glue-ups by matching! 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