Beech
Density of beech
720 kg/m³ (670–760)
0.72 g/cm³ · 44.9 lb/ft³
The classic steam-bending timber: its short, uniform fibres let it be bent around a former and hold the curve, which is the basis of every bentwood chair since Thonet. It is also odourless and tasteless, so it is the traditional wood for food utensils and for beer fermentation vessels. It moves a lot with humidity and rots quickly if damp, so it belongs indoors.
Properties
- Density
- 720 kg/m³ (670–760) — 0.72 g/cm³
- Young's modulus
- 11.9 GPa
- Floats in water
- Yes
- Magnetic
- No
What it is used for
- Steam-bent chair frames
- Wooden planes, mallets and tool handles
- Kitchen worktops and chopping boards
- Toys and school furniture
How it compares
Water is 1,000 kg/m³. Anything with a shorter bar than water floats in it.
air 1.2 kg/m³
expanded polystyrene foam 20 kg/m³
rigid polyurethane foam 40 kg/m³
beech 720 kg/m³
Water — the float line 1,000 kg/m³
tungsten 19,250 kg/m³
gold 19,300 kg/m³
platinum 21,450 kg/m³
| Material | Density | Relative to water |
|---|---|---|
| rigid polyurethane foam | 40 kg/m³ | 0.04× |
| expanded polystyrene foam | 20 kg/m³ | 0.02× |
| air | 1.2 kg/m³ | 0.00× |
| beech ← | 720 kg/m³ | 0.72× |
| platinum | 21,450 kg/m³ | 21.45× |
| gold | 19,300 kg/m³ | 19.30× |
| tungsten | 19,250 kg/m³ | 19.25× |
Does it rust?
Beech contains no iron, so it cannot rust. Whether it degrades depends on the material, not on oxidation.
Is it magnetic?
Beech is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.
Common questions
- What is the density of beech?
- 720 kg/m³ (670–760), or 0.72 g/cm³.
- Does beech float?
- Yes. At 720 kg/m³ it is less dense than water's 1,000.
- Is beech magnetic?
- Beech is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.
Related pages
- Does beech float? Yes
- Pine 500 kg/m³
- Plywood 600 kg/m³
- MDF 750 kg/m³
- White oak 755 kg/m³
- Red oak 700 kg/m³
- Balsa 160 kg/m³
- Spruce 430 kg/m³
- Western red cedar 370 kg/m³
Sources
- Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place