Brendon_t Posted July 13, 2015 Report Share Posted July 13, 2015 It seems like historically, European beech was a very popular bench material. Even today, a lot of high end magazine order benches are beech. Any reason it's not more popular with diy bench builders? Here in southern California, 8/4 is readily available and a bit cheaper than hard maple. Plus it smells amazing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted July 13, 2015 Report Share Posted July 13, 2015 Availability varies wildly across the country, like most other species. I've never seen a stick of European Beech in person. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted July 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2015 Availability varies wildly across the country, like most other species. I've never seen a stick of European Beech in person. Hmm, I figured it was available everywhere. Well that makes some sense.. I can't get walnut to save my life but beech is like red oak. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted July 13, 2015 Report Share Posted July 13, 2015 There's not a stick of beech available in St. Louis that I'm aware of. We have piles of walnut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted July 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 I just got off the horn with Bonhoff lumber in Vernon CA. He currently has about 1700 bf of 8/4 European steamed beech 8'and better at $3.36/bf. Is the steamed a good thing or bad thing when it comes to beech? I won't touch steamed walnut for free but am not sure about beech. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted July 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 Since most hardwoods grow east of the Mississippi, my guess is exotics and domestics are more simlarly priced in California. Mike, your assumption is pretty dead on. Hardwoods, with the exception of Ash, is all imported for us so the discrepancy of price is narrow. We can get about any coniferous species you want for a nickel and a haND shake though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted July 14, 2015 Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 If I were building a bench and good get it, I would. I have a little Lervad that I bought new in 1977 made from European Beech. It's never caused me any concern, has been in all sorts of environments, the vise rods slide through the Beech with no other bearings, gets used a lot, and still works flawlessly. I've never done a thing to it but use it. I never broke my toys when I was little either though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted July 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 I'm finding all kinds of numbers for the hardness. 890 at the low, 1560 at the high. There was a cluster around 1300 so that's what I'm going with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted July 15, 2015 Report Share Posted July 15, 2015 1450 at the wood database. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted July 15, 2015 Report Share Posted July 15, 2015 Just by feel of working on it, I'd say it's close enough to Hard Maple not to worry about a few Jankas one way or the other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted July 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2015 Tom, would you agree that although it is hard, it works and planes well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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