Common Uses

Boxes and crates, Decorative veneer, Drawer sides, Flooring, Furniture, Furniture components, Interior construction, Joinery, Matches, Plywood, Toys, Truck bodies, Veneer.

Category	Green	Dry	Unit
Specific Gravity		0.45
Weight		28	lbs/cu.ft.

Species Distribution

REGIONS: Eastern Europe, Mediterranean Sea Region, Asia, Western Europe. COUNTRIES: CIS, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom.

Physical and Environmental Profile

Environmental Profile The environmental status of this species within its natural growth range has not been officially assessed. Distribution Native to Scotland, Ireland, England, and Wales, the species is reported to occur in Europe, northern Africa, and Asia. Its natural range is reported to include the entire British Isles, and is also found in the Scandinavian countries, Poland, and Russia. The tree is reported to tolerate poor soils very well. It occurs in the mountains in the southern region of its growth range. Product Sources It is currently unknown whether lumber and other timber products produced from this species are available from environmentally responsible sources. Several species of Poplar and European aspen are reported to be routinely marketed together, although timber quality within each species can vary significantly depending upon growth conditions. Tree Data Aspen trees are reported to rarely be tall trees. They reach about 60 to 80 feet (18 to 24 m) in height, with a trunk diameter usually 3 to 4 feet (90 to 120 cm), though they can be larger. Aspen from Britain is reported to seldom attain timber sizes, and are usually cultivated for other purposes than the production of timber. Heartwood Color The wood is usually creamy-white to gray in color, but may be light brown or pinkish-brown, with the heartwood and sapwood seldom differentiable. European aspen is reported to be whiter in color, and is generally of better quality than Poplars. Grain The grain is reported to be typically straight. Texture Uniformity in structure and little contrast between earlywood and latewood gives Aspen a fine and even texture. It tends to be wooly, but Aspen is generally considered to have a finer texture than the Poplars. Odor There is no distinct odor or taste. Ease of Drying The timber is reported to dry fairly rapidly and well. Drying Defects Wet pockets are reported to be rather common, and knots tend to split during drying. Kiln Schedules Schedule E (4/4) United Kingdom Movement in Service Dimensional stability is reported to be fair, and the wood shows medium movement in use. Natural Durability The heartwood is reported to have very little natural resistance to decay in contact with the ground. Standing trees and logs are vulnerable to attack by forest longhorn beetles, and trees may be attacked by wood-boring caterpillars. The sapwood is reported to be seldom attacked by powder-post beetles. Blunting Effect The wood is reported to dull cutting edges slightly. Cutting Resistance Saws tend to bind occasionally during conversion, but cross-cutting and narrow bandsawing operations are reported to be satisfactory. Planing Aspen tends to be woolly and requires very sharp and thin cutting angles for best results in planing and other machining operations. Cutters with reduced sharpness angle have also been recommended. Gluing Gluing qualities are reported to be very good. Nailing The timber is reported to accept nails satisfactorily. Polishing Polishing properties are reported to be satisfactory. Staining Staining qualities are rated as fair, although surfaces sometimes tend to stain unevenly. Varnishing Varnishing characteristics are rated as satisfactory. Painting The timber is reported to take paints fairly well. Steam Bending Aspen is reported to be unsuitable for solid bending since it tends to buckle severely on the concave face. Strapping and end-pressure devices are reported to do very little to improve bending properties. Strength Properties European aspen is reported to have rather low strength properties in bending, stiffness, and resistance to shock. Its crushing strength is rated as medium, and weight is about average.

References

Numeric Data Source Lavers, G.M. 1967. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50 (Spersedes Bulletin No. 45). Ministry of Technology, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. Descriptive Data Source HMSO. 1985. Broadleaves. Forestry Commission Booklet No. 20. Text by H.E. Edlin. Revised by A.F. Mitchell. Forestry Commission, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. HMSO. 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc. Fresno, California. Nairn, P.M., Editor. 1936. Wood Specimens - 100 Reproductions in Color - A Series of Selected Timbers Reproduced in Natural Color with Introduction and Annotations by H.A. Cox. The Nema Press, Proprietors of Wood, London. British Woodworking Federation. 1995. Which Wood . Published by the British Woodworking Federation, Broadway House, Tothill Street, London.

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