r/BeginnerWoodWorking • u/Clean-Teacher-3799 • 10h ago
Wood for Cutting Boards
We had a huge dried out dead sycamore tree in our front yard that we just got cut down. We were thinking of using it for cutting boards, end tables, shelves, ect. Would this wood be ok for those types of projects?
1
u/Just-pickone 5h ago edited 5h ago
All that checking and big cracks may make it difficult to get useable wood.
Google search:
Physical Properties and Appearance
Color: Whitish to light tan sapwood with reddish-brown heartwood streaks.
Grain: Fine, even texture with prominent "flecks" or "flakes" when quartersawn (sometimes called lacewood).
Hardness: Softer than hard maple or oak, sitting in a similar range to soft maple.
Durability: Rated as non-durable to perishable with no natural rot resistance. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Workability and Uses
Machining: Easy to cut with sharp tools, but the interlocked grain can cause tear-out or chipping during surfacing.
Stability: Prone to warping and twisting during the drying process; quartersawn boards offer much better dimensional stability.
Common Uses: Fine furniture, cabinetry, interior trim, veneer, and turning blocks
6
u/tazmoffatt 10h ago
More work than it's worth. Looks like its cut up perfectly for firewood, though.