Chestnut
The Chestnut is a semi-heavy wood, well differentiated, with very narrow sapwood and heartwood of a characteristic brown color, of variable intensity; veins evident due to the presence of spring vases with a diameter that is visible to the naked eye.
Coarse texture, usually straight grain.
Technological properties
The chestnut is characterized by a semi-hard wood, very resistant to bending and yielding. The workings are carried out easily and lead to good results. Given the high porosity and the presence of tannin, gluing and painting can be difficult. In humid environments and in contact with metals, it darkens clearly due to reaction with tannin. It is mushroom-resistant and resistant to xylophagous insects, once seasoned. The bleeding defect is very frequent and characteristic.
Use
Set of stakes of various sizes, material for agricultural use and for weaving, material for the production of staves, wood for industry and firewood, from the barrels of larger specimens, if free from defects, you can obtain beams, joinery boards, rustic furniture , decorative fixtures and veneers.
Typical defects
Onions, nodes with a partridge eye.
Technical details of the Chestnut
Family | European Hardwood Family |
Scientific name | Castanea sativa |
Other names | Sweet chetsnut (GB); Spanish chetsnut (E), Edelkastanie (D); Chataignier(F) |
Geographic origin | Grows in the mountain belt of the Apennines and the Alps, present in a discontinuous way in central and southern Europe up to Turkey. Often the formations are governed by a coppice. |
Specific weight Medium | Fresh 720 kg/m3 |
Dried 580 kg/m3 | |
Sawing | Easy |
Drying | Slow with risk of collapse, internal and external cracks |
Planing | Easy |
Gluing | With alkaline glues there is a risk of reaction-Wood Acid |
Nailing and screwing | Better with preventive site preparation |