Sweet Chestnut:

Below you will find information about some of the timber I use in the making of Chairs, and other furniture. (some of it may not be avalable in your area.)

Sweet Chestnut:

• "Castanea sativa"

Other Names:

• Spanish chestnut.
• European chestnut.

Sources:

• Europe, Asia Minor.

Tree Characteristics:

• Known for its edible nuts, it is a moderate to large tree some 100ft or more in height.
• It produces a straight trunk, 19ft long and about 6ft in diameter.

Characteristics of the wood:

• Acoarse textured wood, yellowish brown in colour with a straight or spiralled grain.
• The colour and texture is similar to oak when plain sawn, but it does not display the ray figure of oak when quarter sawn.
• Like oak, chestnut will corrode ferrous metals and become stained when in contact with them.
• The wood is naturally durable.

Workability:

• An ease wood to work and finish with hand and machine tools.
• It glues well.

Average dried weight:

• 35lb/cuft.

Finishing:

• Although coarse textured, it can be brought to a smooth finish.
• It stains well and gives an excellent finish with varnish and polish.

Common uses:

• Furniture,
• Turnery,
• Coffins,
• Poles,
• Stakes.