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 Carving 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 Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Abrasion Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Populus tremuloides Trade Name Quaking aspen Family Name Salicaeae Common Names Alamo tremblon, Aspe, Aspen, Canadian aspen, Espe, Peuplier tremble, Quaking aspen, Trembling aspen, Zitterpappel Regions of Distribution Central America, North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Canada, Mexico, United States Common Uses Bearings & bushings, Beehives, Boxes and crates, Brooders, Building construction, Cabin construction, Casks, Clothespins, Construction, Cooperages, Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Flooring, Food containers, Furniture, Jewelry box, Matchboxes, Matches, Musical instruments, Packing cases, Pallets, Particleboard, Plywood, Poultry coops, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Rough construction, Sporting Goods, Turnery, Veneer Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Quaking or Trembling aspen is considered to be the most widely distributed tree in North America. It grows from Alaska to Newfoundland and southward to Virginia. It also occurs in the Rocky Mountains, extending south to southern Arizona and northern New Mexico. It grows from near sea level to an elevation of 6500 to 10,000 feet (1981 to 3048 m) throughout its range. The tree often occurs in pure stands, and grows in many soil types, especially sandy and gravelly slopes. Heartwood Color Brown Red Pink Yellow Green/grey Purple Orange White to cream Greenish to greyish Pale brown Yellowish brown Brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Pink White to yellow Same as heartwood White/Cream Sapwood blends into heartwood Paler than heartwood Grain Straight Figure Even Growth rings (figure) Mottled (figure) Straight Mottled figure Generally straight, but not always Clear growth rings (figure) Texture Fine Medium Uniform Coarse Even or uniform Fine Fine and uniform Luster High Medium Low Silky luster Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Non-durable Non-resistant to termites Non-resistant to powder post beetles Perishable Non-resistant to marine borers Non durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Perishable Odor Seasoned wood has no odor or taste No distinctive taste Green wood has disagreeable smell Kiln Schedules UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 T110 (8/4) US T109 (4/4) US T12-E7 (4/4) T10-E6 (8/4) Schedule E (4/4) United Kingdom Wet streaks. Wet streaks. Drying Defects Distortion Extension of Existing Shakes Checking Moderate twist/warp Moderate collapse and honeycombing If proper precautions are not taken timber may warp and twist Expect moderate degrade from water pockets. Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Fairly Easy Rapidly Thick Stock Requires Care Slowly Moderate Shrinkage is often moderate Requires careful piling to prevent distortion Easy Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries at a moderate speed Naturally dries quickly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 30-40 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Bark width is 0-5 mm Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Deriving its name from its leaves which are inclined to tremble in the slightest breeze, Trembling or Quaking aspen. The twigs and foliage of the tree are eaten by deer, elk, and moose, as well as sheep and goats. Beavers, rabbits, and other mammals are also reported to feed on the bark, foliage, and buds, and winter buds are a food source for grouse and quails. Product Sources Wood produced by Trembling and Bigtooth aspens are difficult to differentiate and are mixed and marketed together under the trade name Aspen. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Tension wood often present Blunting Effect Moderate Slight Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Moderately easy Easy Bored areas of tension wood tend to rough Average number of bored pieces reported to produce good to excellent holes = 78). Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Easy to saw Moderate to saw Easy to saw Gluing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Moderate gluing properties Good gluing properties Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory mortising properties An average of 60% yield excellent results Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very poor (an average of 7% yield good results) Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Stable Small Dimensionally stable after seasoning Nailing Holds satisfactorily Nails hold poorly Easy to nail Satisfactory nailing properties Holds nails well Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Ease of planing is moderate Requires very sharp and thin cutting angles On average of 21 pieces out a hundred yield excellent results Areas of tension wood are difficult to plan and yield fuzzy surfaces Resistance to Abrasion Highly resistant to wear Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Heartwood is highly resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Sapwood is resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is resistant Resistance to Splitting Good Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good sanding finish Screwing Screwing yields good results Screwing yields satisfactory results Satisfactory screwing properties Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good results Fairly good response (70% yield excellent results) Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Veneers easily Suitable for slicing Difficult to veneer Veneers moderately easy Easy to cut There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling Moderately easy to veneer Converts readily into veneers Crotches are occasionally available which are used to produce veneers with attractive mottled figure and streaks of pink, orange and golden colors. Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Painting Satisfactory results Good results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory results Staining Fair to Good Results Finish is generally satisfactory Woolly surfaces cause uneven staining Finish is generally good Boring, mortising, and other machining properties are generally satisfactory Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Density = low Bending strength (MOR) = low Max. crushing strength = low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low