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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

Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

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
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Max. crushing strength = medium
Bending strength (MOR) = very low
Weight = moderate
Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low
Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low
Max. crushing strength (stiffness) = very low
Low resistance to denting and marring
Hardness (side grain) = soft
Density = medium
Crushing strength = low
Bending strength (MOR) = medium

Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium

Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength53008483psi
Crushing Strength176363psi
Density26lbs/ft3
Hardness337lbs
Impact Strength2221inches
Maximum Crushing Strength22824263psi
Shearing Strength875psi
Stiffness98312391000 psi
Work to Maximum Load57inch-lbs/in3
Specific Gravity0.330.35
Weight2521lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage3%
Tangential Shrinkage7%
Volumetric Shrinkage12%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength372596kg/cm2
Crushing Strength1225kg/cm2
Density416kg/m3
Hardness152kg
Impact Strength5553cm
Maximum Crushing Strength160299kg/cm2
Shearing Strength61kg/cm2
Stiffness69871000 kg/cm2
Work to Maximum Load0.350.49cm-kg/cm3
Specific Gravity0.330.35
Weight400336kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage3%
Tangential Shrinkage7%

References
Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois and E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods: Temperate and Tropical. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Madison, Wisconsin.

Brown, H.P. and Panshin, A.J.,1940,Commercial Timbers of the United States Their structure, identification,,properties and uses,McGraw-Hill, London

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World: - No.7 North America,TRADA

Canadian Forestry Service. 1981. Canadian Woods - Their Properties and Uses. Third Edition. E.J. Mullins and T.S. McKnight, Editors. Published by University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Canada.

Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London

Constantine, Jr., A.J. 1975. Know Your Woods - A Complete Guide to Trees, Woods, and Veneers. Revised by H.J. Hobbs. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York.

Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO

Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1945,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research

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., 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.

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.

Markwardt, L.J., Wilson, T.R.C.,1935,Strength and related properties of woods grown in the United States,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture Technical Bulletin,No.479

Mullins, E.J. and McKnight, T.S.,1981,Canadian Woods Their Properties and Uses,University of Toronto Press 3rd Edition

Panshin, A.J. and C. deZeeuw. 1980. Textbook of Wood Technology, 4th Edition. McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York.

Perala, D.A. and Carpenter, E.M.,1985,American Woods - Aspen,USDA, Forest Service American Woods FS-217

Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press

Takahashi, A.,1978,Compilation of Data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part,III) Africa,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No. 7

Thomas, A.V.,1953,The timber of Upun Batu (Upuna borneensis,Malaysian Forester 16(3, 163-5

U.S.D.A. Forest Service,1974,Wood Handbook,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Handbook,72

USDA. 1987. Wood Handbook:Wood as an Engineering Material. Agriculture Handbook No. 72. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Madison, Wisconsin.

USDA. 1988. Dry Kiln Operator's Manual - Preliminary Copy. Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.