Sycamore Curl

Acer pseudoplatanus

Trade Names

Sycamore Crotch, English Sycamore Crotch

Similar Woods

Beech Curl, Beech Crotch

Origin

Europe

Range

Branch crotches of Sycamore logs, extraordinarily rare in pieces suitable for veneer, very often the crotch is open.

Uses

Architectural woodwork. Since this wood is only available in small (max. 1,20 meter) lengths and very rare, only usable for single projects. No mass-produced furniture possible.

Properties

The wood is almost white. The veneer has to be dried quickly after slicing, otherwise it yellows when exposed to light and air.

Machining

The various directions of growth must be observed when machining.

Seasoning

Great attention should be paid to the figuring when drying. Only extremely careful drying can obviate tension checking, caused by the different directions in shrinkage.

Finishing

Sycamore Crotch is excellently suited for polishing and staining. To prevent premature yellowing, UV-resistant varnishes are recomended.

Jointing

Wood joints are easy to produce with glue, screws and nails and hold well. Pre-drilling is to be recommended when using screws.
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