Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Aesculus hippocastanum Trade Name European horse chestnut Family Name Hippocastanaceae Synonyms Aesculus memmingeri, Aesculus procera Common Names European horse chestnut Horse chestnut Marrionier d'inde Regions of Distribution Eastern Europe, Oceania and S.E. Asia, Western Europe Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, France, Greece, India, Iran, United Kingdom Common Uses Baskets, Boxes and crates, Broom handles, Brush backs & handles, Brush backs & handles, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Decorative plywood, Flooring, Food containers, Furniture, Handles: general, Interior construction, Interior trim, Moldings, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Sporting Goods, Tables, Textile equipment, Toys, Turnery, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Vulnerable Vulnerable in many parts of its natural habitat Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Particularly in Bulgaria Distribution Overview Its common range is in southern Europe (Greece, Albania), though it is naturalized at scattered locales throughout eastern North America from Maine to Minnesota, and south to South Carolina. It is also found in Great Britian, where it is widely cultivated. Heartwood Color White Yellow Orange Brown Red Pink White to cream Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Pale red to pink Trees felled in early winter are often very white in color while those felled later in the season have colors that vary from yellow to light brown. Sapwood Color Red Brown Yellow White Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Wavy Interlocked Figure Crossed Closed Spiral Straight Even Growth rings (figure) Mottled (figure) Rippled (figure) Rays (figure) Wavy Interlocked Straight Spiral Rippled figure Mottled figure Clear growth rings (figure) Rays figure Crossed Storied rays often produce a ripple or mottle figure on longitudinal surfaces. Texture Fine Close Even or uniform Fine Uniform Close Luster Low Slightly lustrous Natural Durability Perishable Resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to insect attack Non-durable Sapwood non-resistant to furniture beetles Moderately durable Perishable Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Very little natural resistance Sapwood is vulnerable to attack by furniture beetles Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Moderately durable Odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Splitting Distortion End splitting Distortion (twist/warp) is likely Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Little degrade Moderately Difficult to Difficult Easy Moderate Little or no degrade Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Naturally dries at a moderate speed Tree Identification Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Bole length is 0-10 m Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Little Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Satisfactory results Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Moderate to saw Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is moderate Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to glue Very good properties Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mortise Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy The wood can be moulded or shaped easily but a reduced cutting angle is recommended for best results. Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Small Stable Small movement in use Nailing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory nailing properties Holds satisfactorily Holds nails well Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Moderately easy to plane Easy to plane Reduced cutting angle is recommended Resistance to Impregnation Permeable heartwood Permeable sapwood Heartwood is permeable Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Works well with hand tools Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good in both routing and recessing. Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to sand Screwing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Screwing yields good results Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Easy to turn Satisfactory Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy Suitable for slicing Easy to cut Suitable for slicing Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Good Very good Moderate Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Satisfactory results Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Finish is generally good Satisfactory staining properties Varnishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength = low Work to Maximum Load = very low Max. crushing strength = medium Weight= medium Toughness (total work) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Resists denting and marring Hardness = medium Hardness (side grain) = soft Density = high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 5920 9785 psi Density 32 lbs/ft3 Hardness 882 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 2668 5312 psi Shearing Strength 1221 psi Stiffness 931 1098 1000 psi Toughness 167 inch-lbs Work to Maximum Load 10 11 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.37 0.39 Weight 33 31 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 3 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 416 687 kg/cm2 Density 512 kg/m3 Hardness 400 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 187 373 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 85 kg/cm2 Stiffness 65 77 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 192 cm-kg Work to Maximum Load 0.70 0.77 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.37 0.39 Weight 528 496 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % References Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 6 Europe,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Clifford, N.,1953,Commercial Hardwoods - Their Characteristics Identification and,Utilization,Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons Ltd. London Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1937,A Handbook of Home-Grown Timbers,HMSO Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1967,The Steam Bending Properties of various timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Leaflet,No.45 Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1969,The Movement of Timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Technical Note,No.38 Forests Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1956,A Handbook of Hardwoods,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research Establishment HMSO. 1972. Handbook of Hardwoods. 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting Kloot, N. H. and E. Bolza. 1961. Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia. Technological Paper No. 12. Division of Forest Products, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Melbourne, Australia. Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12 Laidlaw, W.B.R. 1960. Guide to British Hardwoods. Published by Leonard Hill [Books] Limited, 9 Eden Street, N.W.1, London. Lauricio, F.M., Bellosillo, S.B.,1966,Fifth Progress Report on the Mechanical and Related Properties of,Philippine woods,Philippine Lumberman,12(5,p66 Lavers, G.M. 1966. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50. Ministry of Technology, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. Lavers, G.M.,1983,The Strength Properties of Timber (3rd ed. revised Moore G.L.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Report (formerly Bulletin No.50) Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California. Little, E.L. 1980. The Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Western Region. Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York. Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press Redding, L.W.,1971,Resistance of Timbers to Impregnation with Creosote,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Bulletin No.54 pp.43 Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London Smith, D.N.,1959,The Natural Durability of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Record,No.30 Stone, H.,1924,The Timbers of Commerce and their Identification,William Rider & Sons Ltd. London T.D.A.,1942,Timber Leaflet No.70 Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum,TRADA Timber Leaflet T.R.A.D.A.,1942,Home-grown timber trees - their characteristics, cultivation and Uses,TRADA Timber Development Association Ltd.,1955,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Timber Development Association Ltd. Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom. Wood, A.D.,1963,Plywoods of the World: Their Development, Manufacture and,Application,Johnston & Bacon Ltd. Edinburgh & London