Beech wood furniture
The beech is one of the most widespread deciduous trees in Europe. Beech wood is also an important raw material for furniture manufacturers: the robust wood is used, among other things, to make cabinets, solid wood , wooden benches , Wooden cutting boards and chairs that, with careful care, will last for decades. However, beech wood is rarely used outdoors anymore because it is not weather-resistant.
Properties of beech wood
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Beech wood is tough and yet elastic
Beech wood is considered to be very heavy and load-bearing. It doesn't get damaged easily and will last a long time if cared for carefully. However, if the wood is steamed, it quickly develops such elasticity that it can even be bent. This process of bending wood is called the bentwood technique. This technique is used, for example, to produce the characteristic bentwood chairs, which are very decorative with their curved lines. In addition to beech, only the maple tree is suitable for making bentwood chairs.
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Beech wood hardly stains as it ages
Unlike pine wood, for example, beech wood hardly ever stains. As it ages, it is normal for some types of wood to become darker, but beech wood retains its light yellowish to pinkish-brown color even after many years. Only steamed beech wood changes its original color through the treatment and becomes brown-red.
Indoor furniture is easy to care for
Beech wood furniture should be treated with wood oil and hard wax to protect it against water and contamination. Care products that consist largely of oil in addition to hard wax are perfect for ensuring good care.
Beech wood as furniture?
The comparatively heavy wood of beech is often used for making furniture, and not without reason. First of all, functional aspects such as high load-bearing capacity and elasticity speak for local wood. It is also very hard, making it less susceptible to scratches and dents.
The natural wood color varies from light yellowish to reddish brown, but is comparatively light. Solid wood furniture made of beech wood have a brightening effect on rooms with dark floors or dark wall colors. Beech hardly darkens with age, so the effect lasts for decades. The heartwood of beech is slightly darker than the sapwood and has a reddish shimmer. It also has a clearer grain, which is interspersed with reddish-brown veins.
Since beech wood is very much out of fashion, we hardly make any furniture in beech wood. However, if you are interested in a product made of beech wood, please contact us!
Tips for caring for beech wood furniture
Beech wood can be adequately protected for years with special wood oils and wood waxes. Hard wax care products with a high oil content are best suited, as they combine both caring and protective effects. Depending on the manufacturer's instructions, the agent is applied several times evenly with a cloth. Any excess hard wax that has not been absorbed should be removed, as wet spots have a bad effect on the wood.
Most care products have an intense smell that lingers on the furniture for a few days. If you want to avoid this, you should take care of your furniture shortly before your vacation, for example. Important: The cloth used to apply the furniture oil should under no circumstances be left crumpled up. Cloths soaked in oil can self-ignite!
When the surface treatment is complete and the wax layer has dried, cabinets and chairs can simply be wiped down with a damp cloth. For heavier dirt, a gentle soapy solution or lye with dishwashing liquid is suitable. Conventional cleaning agents would attack the protective layer on the wood. After cleaning, wipe with a dry cloth.
By the way, you can't do anything about cracks in the wood, even with extensive care. Beech wood works and warps with changing temperatures. This causes cracks to form in dry wood.
Beech wood outdoors?
As already mentioned at the beginning, beech wood is not very suitable for outdoor use. Beech wood is also very susceptible to wood-damaging fungi and insects. Only after a multi-layer treatment can the wood be exposed to wind, weather and possible pests. For the production of garden furniture, other types of wood are now used that have better inherent protection.
Origin and characteristics of beech wood
In Western and Central Europe, the European beech is by far the most widespread deciduous tree. The trees grow up to 45 meters high and reach a maximum age of 300 years. As it ages, the heartwood turns a dark red-brown.
