hornbeam

[Avery]

Currently embarking on a new project in a woodland in sussex.
Mostly coppice but some hornbeam to take down and convert.
Does anyone have any experience with hornbeam (from wood land to workshop), is it worth milling and drying?
I have never heard of it use in the industry apart from a vague memory of it mentioned in furniture and cabinet making monthly once.
I know its very hard and dulls tools quickly.
Does it have any redeeming qualities because its plentiful in the woodland and i plan to buy a logosol and mill some timber.
Avery East sussex

 

[Harbo]

I've got a chunk of it and use it to make tool handles.
It turns and shapes quiet well.


Rod

 

[gwr]

Never used it and don't know much about it but a quick google brought up tools,sports equipment,Industrial flooring among other uses.
It goes on to say good for steam bending but not so much cabinet making.I think it might be good for new workbench top as it's really strong.

 

[Cheshirechappie]

One old traditional use for hornbeam was as flooring in industrial use. Hard-wearing, and kinder to the feet than stone flags or (later) concrete.

Some of the specialist timber merchants do stock some, though I suspect most is imported. It may be worth your while ringing round the specialists to see if they'll take some. Apparently it's also used for turnery, brushbacks, musical instrument making, tool handles, mallets and skittles, according to 'World Woods in Colour by William Lincoln. He also says it dries easily with little degrade, so a speculative conversion and seasoning might pay off.

 

[AndyT]

A lot of German planes from ECE and similar are made of hornbeam which suggests that it is moderately hard and stable.

According to Herbert Edlin, writing in 'Woodland Crafts in Britain,'

'No timber could be less tractable to the craftsman's tools, and he only chose it where hardness was essential.'

He does say it is used for fuel and charcoal, as well as the uses listed by CC.

 

[Avery]

Fascinating replies. Thanks
Sports equiptment! of course. Was it early cricket bats? rings a bell.
Its known as white beech in some placesit seems.
Also musical instrument making comes up a lot. I wonder where? Necks i suppose.
Flooring! that makes sense.
I think i will mill some out and hope for the best.
Its an adventure.
Im sure i can make something useful, worktops is a good suggestion.
Im thinking it has a lot in common with hickory. or maybe rock maple.
Id love to see a sample, does anyone think the figure/grain is any good or is it tediouse?
Ill have some in a year if anyone wants any.

 

[AndyT]

I have a couple of hornbeam planes. The grain is not interesting at all - a virtue in a plane but not so great elsewhere.

The Hobbit House website has pictures - it has more woods than most of us have heard of

http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/hornbeam.htm

 

[Andrewf]

Have turned quite a bit of Hornbeam. Its hard but turns nicely . The grain can sometimes be a bit bland. From white to a pale fawn. But spalts well. In fact I prefer it to beech. As the spalting can be jet black. But not punky.

 

[Graham Orm]

Currently embarking on a new project in a woodland in sussex.
Mostly coppice but some hornbeam to take down and convert.
Does anyone have any experience with hornbeam (from wood land to workshop), is it worth milling and drying?
I have never heard of it use in the industry apart from a vague memory of it mentioned in furniture and cabinet making monthly once.
I know its very hard and dulls tools quickly.
Does it have any redeeming qualities because its plentiful in the woodland and i plan to buy a logosol and mill some timber.
Avery East sussex

I did a bathroom job for an up market 'client' some years ago and asked them about their stunning bedroom suite. This, it turned out was hornbeam made locally and from a local wood. In my opinion, it's very much worth the trouble. It was a beautiful cream in colour with quite a bit of figured grain.

 

[dickm]

The hardness of hornbeam is useful if you want to form silver items by beating them against a suitably shaped piece of timber. Think jewellers call these formers "stakes". Have had to make some for jewellry-maker daughter

 

[chipmunk]

It used to be the timber of choice for cog teeth in windmills because it's so hard wearing.

+1 for the comments about turnery and relatively easy drying - I've used it quite a bit. It also spalts very well as been said but because it's so hard it can be quite colourful before going too punky to work.

LN make their socket chisel handles from hornbeam too I seem to recall.

HTH
Jon

 

[bugbear]

Hornbeam is the nearest English equivalent to hickory. Not identical, but close in many properties.

BugBear

 

[tekno.mage]

Hornbeam is a lovely wod to turn - I've had pieces with lovely ripple figure too. The only bad thing I've found with it is that woodworm seem to love it.