The Wonderful World of Wood:

Sweet Chestnut:

  • "Castanea sativa"

Other Names:

  • Spanish chestnut.
  • European chestnut.

Sources:

  • Europe, Asia Minor.

Tree Characteristics:

  • Known for its edible nuts, it is a moderate to large tree some 100ft or more in height.
  • It produces a straight trunk, 19ft long and about 6ft in diameter.

Characteristics of the wood:

  • Acoarse textured wood, yellowish brown in colour with a straight or spiralled grain.
  • The colour and texture is similar to oak when plain sawn, but it does not display the ray figure of oak when quarter sawn.
  • Like oak, chestnut will corrode ferrous metals and become stained when in contact with them.
  • The wood is naturally durable.

Workability:

  • An ease wood to work and finish with hand and machine tools.
  • It glues well.

Average dried weight:

  • 35lb/cuft.

Finishing:

  • Although coarse textured, it can be brought to a smooth finish.
  • It stains well and gives an excellent finish with varnish and polish.

Common uses:

  • Furniture,
  • Turnery,
  • Coffins,
  • Poles,
  • Stakes.

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