FNR Hardwood - Ohio BuckeyeAudio → | |
![]() Aesculus glabraSummaryOhio Buckeye or Aesculus glabra, is a light-weight but firm-textured wood that is very desirable for carving. The pores are the smallest of any of our hardwood lumber species. The tree typically has a wide white sapwood which stains easily and a brown heartwood. Board 1 is flat sawn and shows the very uniform grain characteristics of the species. A few small pin knots are also present. Board 2 is similar but shows the dark grain pattern associated with the knots. Boards 3, 4, and 5 show the rather interesting contrast between the darker variegated heartwood and the white sapwood. As seen in Boards 3 and 4, interesting patterns can be made by book matching pieces cut from near the heart of the log. HistoryThe trees are generally medium sized. The largest Ohio buckeye reported is about 4 feet in diameter at 4½ feet above the ground. Color & TextureBuckeye has a wide white to grayish sapwood with a darker irregular heartwood. The sapwood stains easily and often turns a dark blue-black due to blue stain fungi. The wood has very small uniformly distributed pores. The growth rings are slightly visible. In the author’s experience, the wood, when used as construction lumber, acts somewhat “rubbery” and not stiff and crisp. Anatomical and Microscopy![]() ![]() Diffuse-porous; very small pores in no specific arrangement; solitary and radial multiples of 2-3; growth rings faintly distinct due to marginal parenchyma; rays barely visible even with 10x lens; parenchyma banded. Wood Properties
ProductsBuckeye is typically for concealed or low-cost parts. It is an excellent carving wood, and in the past, it was used for artificial limbs. When the material is processed today, it is most likely to be used for low-strength pallets and crates. It can also be used for paint grade molding. |
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