American basswood

American basswood is a light weight species renowned for its creamy colour and ability to be machined and shaped accurately into thin sections, and as a premium wood for carving.

Latin Name

Tilia americana

Other Common Names

linden

American_basswood_big
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American basswood is botanically related to the lime tree found in Europe. The trees are generally large in height and diameter, often with straight trunks and relatively free of limbs. Basswood can be found growing throughout the USA in natural hardwood forests.

FOREST GROWTH

Forest Inventory Analysis (FIA) data shows U.S. basswood growing stock is 210 million m3, 1.4% of total U.S. hardwood growing stock. American basswood is growing 3.3 million m3 per year while the harvest is 1.7 million m3 per year. The net volume (after harvest) is increasing by 1.6 million m3 each year. U.S. basswood growth exceeds or is in balance with harvest in all the main producing states.

Alabama : 2,244,140 m³ Arkansas : 726,270 m³ Arizona : 0 m³ California : 0 m³ Colorado : 0 m³ Connecticut : 165,850 m³ Washington DC : 0 m³ Delaware : 0 m³ Florida : 1,233,180 m³ Georgia : 958,150 m³ Iowa : 7,202,330 m³ Idaho : 0 m³ Illinois : 3,278,770 m³ Indiana : 4,559,760 m³ Kansas : 201,850 m³ Kentucky : 7,381,480 m³ Louisiana : 79,870 m³ Massachusetts : 307,730 m³ Maryland : 971,730 m³ Maine : 853,930 m³ Michigan : 24,205,460 m³ Minnesota : 29,442,410 m³ Missouri : 1,352,270 m³ Mississippi : 790,080 m³ Montana : 0 m³ North Carolina : 5,538,150 m³ North Dakota : 554,410 m³ Nebraska : 1,823,190 m³ New Hampshire : 803,940 m³ New Jersey : 77,830 m³ New Mexico : 0 m³ Nevada : 0 m³ New York : 22,701,460 m³ Ohio : 8,009,890 m³ Oklahoma : 22,080 m³ Oregon : 0 m³ Pennsylvania : 13,906,460 m³ Rhode Island : 0 m³ South Carolina : 136,870 m³ South Dakota : 21,690 m³ Tennessee : 4,871,290 m³ Texas : 312,160 m³ Utah : 0 m³ Virginia : 7,514,060 m³ Vermont : 1,293,800 m³ Washington : 0 m³ Wisconsin : 36,856,640 m³ West Virginia : 20,461,320 m³ Wyoming : 0 m³ 0-6K 6K-12K 12K-18K 18K-24K 24K-30K 30K-36K > 36K Volume of live trees on forest land, 1000 m³ 0 200K All data derives from The Forest Inventory and Analysis Database developed in 2001, a component of the U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture.Data was compiled by AHEC in May 2020 using the most recent state inventory available (2018 for most states).“Forest volume” refers to “Net volume of live trees on forest land" as defined by FIA (see glossary). FIA forest volume data is available for 49 U.S. states (Hawaii and Washington D.C. are omitted) with total commercially significant hardwood forest volume of 14.6 billionWith the 2008 Farm Bill, every US State was tasked to prepare a Forest Action Plan by 2010, reviewed in 2015, to include comprehensiveassessment of forest condition and a strategy for sustainable forestry. Further details are available from theNational Association of State Foresters
Back to whole mainland U.S. 0-20K 20K-40K 40K-60K 60K-80K 80K-100K 100K-120K > 120K Volume of live trees on forest land, 1000 m³ 0 200K
-15K -10K -5K 0 5K 10K 15K 20K 25K GROWTH AND REMOVALS, 1000 m³ -10K -9K -8K -7K -6K -5K -4K -3K -2K -1K 0 1K 2K 3K 4K 5K 6K 7K 8K 9K 10K GROWTH AND REMOVALS, 1000 m³ -2000 -1750 -1500 -1250 -1000 -750 -500 -250 0 250 500 750 1000 1250 1500 1750 2000 GROWTH AND REMOVALS, 1000 m³ -300 -200 -100 0 100 200 300 400 500 GROWTH AND REMOVALS, 1000 m³ Removals 0 Growth 0 Net growth 0
0 200K 400K 600K 800K 1M 1.2M FOREST VOLUME, 1000 m³ 0 40K 80K 120K 160K 200K 240K 280K 320K 360K 400K 440K FOREST VOLUME, 1000 m³ 0 10K 20K 30K 40K 50K 60K 70K 80K 100K FOREST VOLUME, 1000 m³ 0 4K 8K 12K 16K 20K FOREST VOLUME, 1000 m³ Forest volume 0

LCA Tool

16.60
seconds
it takes 19.36 seconds to grow 1m³ of American basswood
The replacement rate is calculated from total U.S. annual increment of the specified hardwood species derived from the U.S. Forest Service Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program and assumes that 2 m³ of logs is harvested to produce 1 m³ of lumber (i.e. 50% conversion efficiency). The rapid rate of replacement is due to the very large volume of hardwood trees in U.S. forest.

Global Warming Potential (Kg CO2 -eq)

03000-30006000-6000

Primary Energy Demand from Resources (MJ)

04000-40008000-8000

Primary Energy Demand from Renewables (MJ)

020000-2000040000-40000

Acidification Potential (Moles of H+ eq.)

03-36-6

Freshwater Eutrophication Potential (Kg P -eq)

00.002-0.0020.004-0.004

Marine Eutrophication Potential (Kg N -eq)

00.05-0.050.1-0.1

Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential (Kg NMVOC)

03-36-6

Resource Depletion (Kg Sb -eq.)

00.0003-0.00030.0006-0.0006
Key
Forestry
Drying
Sawmill
Transport Forest-Kiln
Transport Kiln-Customer
Carbon uptake
Global Warming PotentialPrimary Energy Demand from ResourcesPrimary Energy Demand from RenewablesAcidification PotentialFreshwater Eutrophication PotentialMarine Eutrophication PotentialPhotochemical Ozone Creation PotentialResource Depletion
UnitKg CO2 -eqMJMJMoles of H+ eq.Kg P -eqKg N -eqKg NMVOCKg Sb -eq.
Forestry
/343123000.372/0.0004430.4670.00000268
Drying
38.55806060.2150.0003170.01021.360.0000246
Sawmill
-15689224800.2840.0001760.005780.2030.000242
Transport Forest-Kiln
46.263910.30.2130.0003250.005420.2670.000028
Transport Kiln-Customer
142190029.12.080.0006860.04021.630.00008
Carbon uptake
-2780///////
Total-27104360154003.170.00150.06213.920.000377
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Basswood from the USA is available in relatively limited volumes compared to some other species, both as sawn lumber and veneer. Lumber is available in a range of grades and thickness from 4/4” (25.4mm) right through to 16/4” (102mm) due to its ease of drying. Basswood lumber is also available in 9/4” (56mm) a specially produced thickness for production of window shutters and venetian blinds.

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The sap of basswood tends to be large and is creamy white in colour giving way to the heartwood that is pale to reddish brown. It may display dark streaks which are not a defect. The difference between sap and heartwood is small and may be indistinct. The wood of basswood has a fine uniform texture and straight grain, which is not distinct. 

Mechanical Properties

Basswood is light and soft but said to be ‘tough’, with low density and strength. It has poor steam bending classification.

  • 0.37

    Specific Gravity (12% M.C.)

    417 kg/m3

    Average Weight (12% M.C.)

    12.60%

    Average Volume Shrinkage (Green to 6% M.C.)

    59.987 MPa

    Modulus of Rupture

    10,067 MPa

    Modulus of Elasticity

    32.613 MPa

    Compressive strength (parallel to grain)

    1,824 N

    Hardness
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Oiled
basswood_oiled
Un-oiled
basswood_unoiled
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  • Basswood machines easily and works well with hand tools, making it a preferred species for carving. It holds screws better than nails, and glues reasonably well and can be sanded, stained and polished to a good smooth finish. It dries fast with low degrade and has good dimensional stability when dry.

     
  • The wood is non-resistant to heartwood decay but is permeable, which makes it possible to accept preservative treatment.
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This unique hardwood, growing in natural forests in the USA, is considered the best species for venetian blinds and internal shutters. It is widely used for carving, turning, mouldings and furniture. Specialist uses include pattern making and musical instruments, especially for piano parts.

Mouldings
Carving
Furniture
Musical Instruments
Turning