Sycamore

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Sycamore

Photo and data from Forest World

Common Names

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American plain
American planetree
American sycamore
Buttonball tree
Buttonwood
Planetree
Sycamore

Common Uses

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Cigar boxes
Cooperages
Decorative veneer
Food containers
Paneling
Baskets
Figured veneer
Interior construction
Veneer
Wainscotting

Species Distribution

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REGIONS:

North America

COUNTRIES:

United States

Physical and Environmental Profile

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Environmental Profile

The species is reported to be demonstrably widespread,
abundant, and secure globally, though it may be quite
rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery
(Source - The Nature Conservancy - Rank of relative endangerment based primarily
on the number of occurrences of the species globally).

Distribution

The growth range of Sycamore in North America reported to include
Ontario, Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia,
Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine,
Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee,
Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Iowa,
Illinois, Nebraska, and West Virginia.
The tree prefers wet soils of stream banks, flood plains, and edges of lakes and swamps,
and is reported to be a dominant species in mixed forests.

Product Sources

Some material from this species is reported to be available from
environmentally responsible or sustainably managed sources.

Supplies of Sycamore are reported to be plentiful.
It is readily available and is reported to be priced in the inexpensive range.

Tree Data

The tree often develops a large bole over a swollen base,
with a trunk diameter of about 24 to 48 inches (60 to 120 cm).
It usually grows to a height of about 60 to 100 feet (18 to 30 m),
and boles are often straight and well formed.
The bark is two or more inches thick in older trees,
and its conspicuous white color, spattered with different shades of
green and brown gives the tree the name of Ghost tree.

Sapwood Color

The sapwood is described as whitish to light yellowish,
or reddish brown.

Heartwood Color

The heartwood is light to dark brown or reddish brown, or flesh-brown in color.

Grain

The grain is usually interlocked and irregular.
Quartersawn surfaces are reported to
exhibit an attractive mottled texture, (lacewood).
Large crowded, brown rays are reported to contrast with white wood tissue
in background to add to the beauty of Sycamore.

Texture

The wood is fine and even textured.

Natural Durability

Heartwood resistance to decay is reported to be very poor,
and it should not be used in areas of high decay hazard.

Blunting Effect

The wood has little blunting effect on cutters.

Cutting Resistance

The wood has little cutting resistance.
Cutting edges should be kept sharp to prevent torn rays.

Planing

Sycamore is reported to require some care in planing because of interlocked grain.
(Average number of planed pieces out of
one hundred reported to yield perfect pieces = 22).

Turning

Turning characteristics are reported to be good, especially when cutters are kept very sharp.
(Percent of turned pieces expected to produce fair to excellent results = 85).

Moulding

The timber is reported to respond very poorly to moulding operations.
(Average number of shaped pieces out of
one hundred reported to produce good to excellent results = 12).

Boring

The material is reported to respond very well to boring operations.
(Expected number of bored pieces out of
one hundred with good to excellent holes = 98).

Mortising

The timber is reported to have exceptional mortising properties.
(Average number of mortised pieces out of
one hundred reported to yield fair to excellent results = 96).

Gluing

Gluing qualities are rated as satisfactory.

Nailing

Nailing and nail-holding properties are reported to be generally good,
but thinner stock should be pre-bored.
(Average number of nailed pieces out of
one hundred reported to be free from complete splits = 79).

Screwing

Screwing properties are rated as good.
(Percent of screwed pieces reported to be free from complete splits = 74).

Sanding

Sanding qualities are reported to be very poor.
(Average number of sanded pieces out of
one hundred reported to produce good to excellent surfaces = 21).

Polishing

Polishing is reported to require some care for good results.

Staining

The wood has satisfactory staining qualities,
and is reported to respond well to all types of stains.

Varnishing

Varnishing qualities are reported to be satisfactory.

Steam Bending

Steam bending properties are rated as rather poor.
(Average number of pieces out of one hundred reported to steam bend without breaking = 29).

Response to Hand Tools

The wood works well with hand tools,
which should be kept sharp for best results.

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Reference Sources

Numerical Data Source

USDA. 1987. Wood Handbook - Wood as an Engineering Material,
Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook No. 72,
Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

Descriptive Data Source

Panshin, A.J. and C. deZeeuw. 1980.
Textbook of Wood Technology, 4th Edition.
McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources.
McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York.

Jackson, A. and D. Day. 1991.
Good Wood Handbook -
The Woodworker's Guide to Identifying, Selecting and Using the Right Wood.
Betterway Publications, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois and E.M. Wengert. 1988.
Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods: Temperate and Tropical.
United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service,
Forest Products Laboratory, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Madison, Wisconsin.

USDA. 1988. Dry Kiln Operators Manual, Preliminary Copy.
Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

Little, E.L. 1980.
The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Eastern Region.
Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York.

Kline, M. 1979. Platanus occidentalis - Sycamore.
In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World.
Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co.,
Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 281-282.

Laidlaw, W.B.R.1960.
Guide to British Hardwoods.
Published by Leonard Hill [Books] Limited, 9 Eden Street, N.W.1, London.

Cypress Woodworks/2001

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