9 years ago. Any help would be appreciated. 4.1 BASSWOOD is an Estonian company, operating and processing data in the UK from all EU/EEA countries and select other countries. Many stockists, I use Yandle of Martock Yandles They will cut to order, and if you ask nicely, wrap it and post to you. Although basswood is also known as linden or lime in Europe, it is commonly planted in towns and cities throughout the US as an ornamental. Common Name(s): Basswood, American Basswood, Lime, Linden, Tree Size: 65-120 ft (20-37 m) tall, 3-4 ft (1-1.2 m) trunk diameter, Average Dried Weight: 26 lbs/ft3 (415 kg/m3), Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .32, .42, Modulus of Rupture: 8,700 lbf/in2 (60.0 MPa), Elastic Modulus: 1,460,000 lbf/in2 (10.07 GPa), Crushing Strength: 4,730 lbf/in2 (32.6 MPa), Shrinkage: Radial: 6.6%, Tangential: 9.3%, Volumetric: 15.8%, T/R Ratio: 1.4. Thanks, Tilia americana is a species of tree in the family Malvaceae, native to eastern North America, from southeast Manitoba east to New Brunswick, southwest to northeast Oklahoma, southeast to South Carolina, and west along the Niobrara River to Cherry County, Nebraska.It is the sole representative of its genus in the Western Hemisphere, assuming T. caroliniana is treated as a … Bubinga is essentially African Rosewood, incredibly dense, very very hard and difficult to work. To prevent your drill bit from getting bogged down when drilling through basswood, be sure to go slow enough for your drill bit to effectively clear wood chips. Endgrain: Diffuse-porous; medium pores predominantly in radial multiples or clusters of 2-4; growth rings indistinct or distinct due to marginal parenchyma; medium to large rays, normal spacing, noded; parenchyma banded (marginal), apotracheal parenchyma diffuse-in-aggregates. Of course, our Tilia is not entirely the same as your Tilia (I think), but they’re pretty darn close.. It’s nearly always ‘Lime’ here - very occasionally ‘Linden’, although I can only recall coming across that in street names. In different regions, different varieties of linden fall under the moniker 'basswood'. 5 Answers. Basswood is one of the softest woods around… Not saying you can’t, just recognize its limitations. Maples are said to be a good alternative to basswood. What's Included (1) Basswood traditional or plantation shutter slats . Unlike Basswood, which tends to soften any highs, Alder retains many more, but … Soil condition and … He is from the UK is this the same as what we call Plywood? Active ingredients in the Linden flowers include flavonoids (which act as antioxidants) and volatile oils. Can anyone advise me on the process of sanding/staining/finishing this type of wood? . I use a spray shellac and the sand with very fine sandpaper. Basswood is close-grained, with very small pores. June is called Lipanj in Croatia and July is named Lipenj in Ukraine and Lipiec in Poland, after the month when the linden tree blooms. We, as children grumbled a bit because we had to sweep up the jolly leafs and they went straight into the cement compost pit at the rear of the garden.Hardy trees that frame very many streets and needless to say, great for climbing. As for common names, particularly in Europe, the Basswood is called the Linden tree. Any opinion on using basswood for cutting boards? You can eat flowers, the leaf buds and young leaves raw. The leaves are very large and the trees grow to a greater diameter. Basswood is an off-white, almost cream colored, tending towards very light brown. Identifying and Using Hundreds of Woods Worldwide, POSTER: Worldwide Woods: Ranked by Hardness. I’ve been Googling for days and haven’t found much on how to finish this wood. Hardwoods are angiosperms which means that they have a seed with some kind of shell covering (hard). We live about 20 miles from the North Carolina border. Flowers may be also hepatoprotective. The leaves of all the Tilia species are heart-shaped and most are asymmetrical. Mike1942f. The wood it self is not to expensive, but the shipping is what makes getting a large quantity very hard. Tilia cordata is one of the native UK/European trees. Color/Appearance: Pale white to light brown color, with sapwood and heartwood sections not clearly defined. The American basswood (Tilia americana) is the only member of the genus Tilia native to Iowa. If room permitted, they were also a favourite for rear gardens, planted in a U shape and facing… Read more ». People also were making talismans of the linden wood. Rot Resistance: Basswood is rated as being non-durable in regard to heartwood decay. Common Uses: Carvings, lumber, musical instruments (electric guitar bodies), veneer, plywood, and wood pulp and fiber products. They used the fibers for many of their needs: Bags, baskets, belts, fishnets, house mats, snowshoe netting, ropes, sewing thread and even suturing wounds. (Read more buzzaboutbees.net). I have been getting a fair bit of traffic as a result. Workability: Easy to work, being very soft and light. Questions & Answers . Answer Save. It is also a popular wood for model building and for intricate carving. Turns easy but takes some effort to get a good sanded finish. Copyright © 2008-2021 Eric Meier | All Rights Reserved. Look for harder woods if you don’t want to replace those handles frequently. Flowers emit a beautiful and relaxing scent, sometimes it can be too strong. I am building an electric guitar. Tilia is one of the species you get in North America that lumber merchants will sell as basswood. Rudy. Cover photo by portlandtreetour.wordpress.com, Pingback: Linden Tree Healing Properties | Snaplant.com(), Basswood or Linden Tree Interesting Facts And Uses, Linden Tree Healing Properties | Snaplant.com. Basswood, also known as American Linden, is a large native North American tree that can grow more than 80 feet tall. They believed that lightening would not hit the holy tree, so people hid underneath it during thunderstorms. The plant also contains tannins that can act as an astringent. It cuts cleanly, nails, screws, and glues well, though sanding leaves the surface woolly. Nobody could break or cut the Linden tree without special needs. Go to google images and look at the carvings of Grinling Gibbons. The wood itself is beautiful red-brown color, very pretty grain, as is myrtlewood. Most medicinal research has focused on Tilia cordata. I can’t seem to find basswood locally. The Scarlet Blinds and Shutter’s classic, innovative design, light to work with, the most popular of all our ranges known as Basswood Shutters. Basswood is … Hi! E.g. The trees are sometimes called "lime" in Britain and "linden" in parts of Europe and North America. But be careful, as reputedly some lime trees (tilia) are poisonous for some bee species and less toxic for others, or have at least a narcotic effect. The double-flowered species of Tilia are used to make perfumes. Percussion manufacturers sometimes use tilia as a material for drum shells. All of the Tilia species may be propagated by cuttings and grafting, as well as by seed. Balsam poplar grows abundantly in your area. Basswood. The flowers, leaves, wood, and charcoal (obtained from the wood) are used for medicinal purposes. Free from knots, shakes and splits. It's probably close to the density of Pine and we all know how many Teles were produced in Pine so there's quite likely no issues with durability. Body, Neck and Fingerboard. Linden flowers are used for colds, cough, fever, infections, inflammation, high blood pressure, headache, and as a diuretic, antispasmodic, and sedative. Good acoustic properties and ease of working also make limewood popular for electric guitar and bass bodies and for wind instruments. We have introduced Lindens but Basswood trees look natural as opposed to cultivated. however people should note that I don't do mailorder, with no two bits of wood the same it simply isn't practical. Basswood: Reviews . Cold Stream Farm carries two main types of these deciduous trees, including American Basswood or American Linden (Tilia americana) trees and Southern Source American Basswood trees. Softwoods are gymnosperms, which has soft seed (most often conifers). Tilia is a beautiful, large and long-lived tree. With so much time invested in making the guitar, I’d be best to use the scraps and make sure everything turns out the way you’d like first. Basswood or Linden tree grows to a height of 30 to 40 meters. Some say use a grain filler, while some say don’t, etc. Pioneers dubbed it "bastwood" leading to its common name of today. It’s getting more and more common in DIY kits or for that matter, cheaper guitars. Please let me know what you think! Wet it. You end up with a silky hard surface! easily worked with hand tools; ideally suited for fine detailed carvings USES: Carving, drawing boards, pattern making, mallet heads, turning, picture framing, toys, constructional veneer and plywood, boxes, and crates. The person that is budget conscious or unknowing of musical… Read more ». Short “a” here as well. You may be able to find some of the old seed pods on the ground as well. Re: Where can I buy basswood in the UK? Grain/Texture: Grain is straight, with a fine, even texture and moderate natural luster. And though the wood is both lightweight and soft, it has an outstanding MOE-to-weight ratio. The wood is used for liver, gallbladder, and intestinal disorders, as well as cellulitis. This light weight wood works very easily with both hand and power tools. I am looking for a wood with similar properties that I can get in my area (Alberta, Canada): straight grained, easily worked, hardwood, etc. Since it is a soft wood, it isn’t suitable for a “tool” handle. Finish may be a contributing factor if it is very light or lacking it altogether as far as durability against dings but some may not like a heavy lacquered finish either(resonance debate). Basswood is really an American term. Basswood has been used for many years in guitar body construction. In German folklore, the Linden is the “tree of lovers”. Perhaps one of the most suitable wood species for hand carving. I like Basswood for turning…inexpensive and easy to find. Yippee! As Ovid tells the old story of Baucis and Philemon, she was changed into a linden and he into an oak when the time came for them both to die. Linden came to Earth over 70 million years ago. Input from a few people that I know that have basswood electric guitars, they get dinged/dents easily compared to the other common woods for electric guitar bodies like maple, mahogany or walnut. Basswood is not a species name, it is not a species of wood - the name is a common name. Reading this I can see why, it has a lot of the right properties. They are unrelated to the lime fruit in the Citrus genus. Share the post "Basswood or Linden Tree Interesting Facts And Uses". The genus is generally called lime or linden in Britain and linden, lime, or basswood in North America. It is interesting, that a paste made from the seeds and flowers of the Basswood tree is a good substitute for chocolate. Small movement. American basswood is a wilder looking cousin. I use it for building jewellery boxes for chip carving. February 5, 2021; Uncategorized If you’re a woodcarver and have never used this wood, you’re in for a real treat. The genus occurs in Europe and eastern North America, but the greatest species diversity is found in … Avoid inhaling wood dust or use a dust mask or other safeguards for personal protection. The name basswood came from a use made by native Americans of using its fibrous, tough inner bark or "bast" for making cords, thongs and ropes. Woodpeckers frequently have many holes in them all over. Try to select other woods using the Janka Hardness scale as a reference. Basswood (Tilia Americana) is easy to work, Europeans sometimes call it American lime because it bears some carving similarities to European lime (Tilia vulgaris). Surely you’ll have some extra pieces of basswood lying around. That name comes from the Old English word of “linde.” It’s been called that for some 1300 years. COMMENTS: Being odor … However, its MOR is on par with its low weight; simply put, when put under stress, the wood will remain stiff, but will still break (rupture) at a relatively average weight. Thanks for any help or ideas. You can do it by planting Basswood trees, which are sometimes called “bee trees” because of all the bees that gather around them when they’re flowering. Never knew what basswood was and was curious to find out as some guitars seem to be made of it. Basswood Shutters. Which is weird because it’s said to be very soft. Possibly the most popular carving wood, basswood is a softwood that is very easy to work with. ……most northern European towns that have an Allee, mostly planted with Linden Trees,and often ended up being called “Linden Allee”, most handsome straight trunks and a well balanced round crown that turns into a beautiful yellow ball in autumn. The genus is generally called Lime or Linden in Britain and Linden, Lime, or Basswood in North America but they are not closely related to the lime fruit. the exterior / bark ). Basswood Shutters. Some of the light colored leaves on the ground match. Favourite answer. I found some Basswood I had stashed in my closet in 2011. This wood has almost no odor and accepts wood stains well. all over the country, with basswood trees often lining the sidewalks. American Basswood is not the same as the European Linden. Linden trees produce soft and easily worked timber, which has very little grain. I do this 3 or 4 times. Past 120 the tree starts to get a lot of “cavities” and becomes home to a lot of woodland creatures. In Europe, some linden trees reached considerable ages. In the UK the trees are called "Lime," and they are a major nectar source. if made into a high quality ply, will it darken and yellow? In the Slavic Orthodox Christian world, linden wood was the preferred wood for panel icon painting. If it’s too damp to carve, let it dry some. Linden wood was often used by Germanic Tribes for constructing shields. Cheers! Tilia is a genus of about 30 species of trees. I know the maple, cherry and walnut are preferred species for cutting boards. I think in the UK it's called Lime and much closer to Elm than any specie of hardwood. Hello, I'm Alastair Reid, of Reid Timber as mentioned above, can I thank you Claude for posting this link to my shop. A solid basswood construction and bolt-on maple neck, make this one of the best DIY Guitar kits by Seismic Audio a must-have for music lovers who love a great sounding guitar, that is also highly customizable. Related but big visual difference. Source: wikipedia.org, fragrantica.com, eattheweeds.com But we have never tasted it. Its color varies from creamy white to creamy brown or reddish, with broad rays and sometimes slightly darker streaks. Slavic people used to plant linden close to churches, houses, and important meetings places. Some softwoods (like yellow pine) are quite hard, and some hardwoods (like balsa) are quite soft. Though Basswood has high initial shrinkage, the wood is stable in service after it has been dried. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information. Native habitat: Canada south to Alabama, west to Texas, Kansas and North Dakota. Basswood is a stringy hardwood. Looks like American beech. There are about 30 species of linden native throughout most of the temperate Northern Hemisphere. With over 300 size options we're sure to have the right size for your next project.. Lime wood carving blanks. Does anyone know if Basswood grows in the Upstate of South Carolina? The grain is straight, and texture is even. Question: does Basswood make good (or even CLOSE to good) Tomahawk/axe handles? There are … what is basswood called in the uk. You see Linden Boulevard or Linden Street, etc. Even your best-kept, prized miniatures sometimes need repair. Its soft, fine, even texture make it easy to work with, while its pale, inconspicuous color doesn’t detract from the carved patterns of the finished product (which also makes it easier to paint and color). Basswood is an ideal wood for  many woodcarvers. It can be found in Europe, North America and Asia. Are Rosewoods (and Bubinga) really banned by CITES? Of course it is. The body is solid basswood. Safety notes: This website is not medical advice, and please check with your doctor before using plants if you are pregnant, using medications or have other health conditions. Relevance. Thank you! Arrowhead Woodproducts, a Northern Mn company will be at the Charlotte Woodcarvers Show in February, 2021 with basswood for sale. This 4″ x 6″ Basswood box was made for a toy throw-top storage and display. Basswood dries rapidly with little degradation or warping. When it comes to staining and finishing just about anything for the first time, an indispensable rule of thumb is test on scrap pieces first. It’s like it was designed to be carved. The flower of this tree is blooming in summer, in late June and early July. Leave it for days or weeks, depending on size. Ima kid trying to research this and what eats basswood and what does it need to survive Please! The tree can produce seeds when as young as eight years and continue to 100. These larger rings and sections add to its strength, and the complexity of the tones. The Indians soaked the bark of the Basswood for two to four weeks to loosen long fibers. It is inexpensive. The genus is generally called "lime" or "linden" in Britain and "linden", "lime", or "basswood" in North America. It holds carving detail very well. #1. Although butternut has a darker color and more beautiful grain pattern, basswood is still a little bit easier to cut, easier to find and it’s cheaper. Basswood is a kind of wood like pine, but with an … Fluorescence: A Secret Weapon in Wood Identification, Bow Woods (from a mathematical perspective), Brazilian Rosewood, East Indian, and Other Rosewoods, Genuine Lignum Vitae and Argentine Lignum Vitae, BOOK: WOOD! Basswood: Basswood is a common hardwood, often used in combination with rare woods such as walnut and mahogany. Basswood is "LIme" in the UK. Can anyone tell me if basswood changes colour over time? Comments: Species in the Tilia genus are usually referred to as either Lime or Linden in Europe, while in North America it’s most commonly called Basswood. Lv 7. (This is a monthly update, and your email will be kept private.). Basswood and butternut have much in common, they both are easy-to-carve and quite popular among woodcarvers. Comments: Species in the Tilia genus are usually referred to as either Lime or Linden in Europe, while  in North America it’s most commonly called Basswood. Direct supply from UK. The grain is straight and even. WARNING: Drilling, sawing, sanding or machining wood products can expose you to wood dust, a substance known to the State of California to cause cancer. Tree size: American linden grows to 60 to 80 feet tall with a spread of one-half to two-thirds the height at a medium rate. Linden branches were brought for healing if there was an ill person or animal in the house. High quality hardwood carving blanks. Tilia cordata and Tilia platyphyllos are fine (non-toxic), but several others are to be avoided: Tilia Petiolaris , as are Tilia orbicularis, Tilia oliveri (Chinese Lime), Tilia tomentosa, (silver lime in the UK and silver linden in the US) – especially toxic for bumblebees, but apparently not so toxic for honeybees, Tilia euchlora, Tilia dasystila. FYI: I receive a commission on sales generated through links to Amazon, eBay, etc. Basswood is a tight gain wood and requires no grain filler. Knots and other defects are uncommon. "Basswood is the wood of choice for many wood carvers. So, where did “linde” come from? Put it in a plastic Ziplock bag. Cheers! Maybe I’m missing something, but I can’t imagine ever needing to use a grain filler for basswood as its pore are pretty small to begin with. The Linden was also a highly symbolic and hallowed tree to the Germanic people in their native pre-Christian mythology. American Basswood is not cultivated looking but wild looking with larger diameter trunks and huge leaves. I am starting wood carving and as a beginner I unfortunately go through a lot of wood. Luckily, our wide range of model components will help to keep the life in your projects, including basswood blocks, sheets of balsa wood, wooden dowels, PVC and Styrene sheets. Hello, Roger. Linden is called sometimes the “bee tree” because bees love the fragrant nectar from these large shade trees. It was used where a lot of fiber strength was not needed. Body Woods Alder Similar to Basswood, alder is lightweight with soft tight pores. Mangetout, is it ever called “basswood” in the UK?I usually see it as “lime” in books. Basswood also glues and finishes well, but has poor steam bending and nail holding characteristics. If you could only supply one shutter range to your customers, it would have to be our Basswood. Growth rings tend to be subtle, and color is mostly uniform throughout the face grain of the wood. Originally, local communities were gathering together not only to celebrate and dance under a Linden tree, but to hold their judicial meetings there in order to restore justice and peace. traight grained, easily worked, hardwood, etc. It can be used to make a wide range of wood art, from spoons, bowls to decorative plates. Lower branches droop but are upturned at the ends. If anyone wonders about finishes, mineral oil and fine grain abrasive paper seems to get a finish just as smooth as hardened resin in my limited experience, (I wet the abrasive with oil by holding it to the mouth of the bottle,then turning it upside down for a spilt second.). It also has a large swirling grain pattern to it. Generally, basswood grown in the Carolinas is not the quality for carving as basswood from the Northern states, ie Wisconsin and Mn. Hickory, White Oak, rock maple and other HARDwoods are what you want for a handle. A coppice of Tilia cordata in Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire is estimated to be 2,000 years old. Best offer of Basswood - Wood - Materials at hobby.uk.com. Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Great prices – quality wood at the largest woodcarving show in the southeast. Its other common name is American Linden. Bast (a type of fiber) obtained from the inside of the bark of the Tilia tree has been used by the Ainu people of Japan to weave their traditional clothing, the attus. If you want something that looks really really nice (grain-wise) then you could try Myrtle or Bubinga. Pricing/Availability: Widely available as lumber or carving blanks. Prices are in the lower range for a domestic hardwood, though larger carving blocks are more expensive. Do I need to varnish it so that over time my artwork doesn’t darken in the sun? Linden is one of three English names for the tree genus Tilia (also known as lime and basswood). The genus occurs in Europe and eastern North America, but the greatest species diversity is found in Asia. Growth habit: Pyramidal when young then becoming rounded with maturity. I have no idea what species wood this is (see attachment photo)..I browed your data base but didn’t find anything that matched it (esp. Might work for something like a serving tray, but not the best for cutting boards where knives will be gnashing against it. Guitar Tone Woods A tone guide for Guitar Tone Woods. Is there a good alternative that is similar to basswood? In Greek mythology Homer, Horace, Virgil, and Pliny mention the Linden tree and its virtues. Tilia americana is the native linden for the US, also called Basswood. Some Lime trees (Linden trees) are favoured by beekeepers, and Linden honey is especially popular in Romania or Ukraine, for example. The DIY SADIYG 15 Premium Model sports a fretboard made of rosewood with Pearloid vine inlays and a double cutaway. It is recommended as an ornamental tree when a mass of foliage or a deep shade is desired. It’s considered a hardwood. Menu. Comments: Species in the Tilia genus are usually referred to as either Lime or Linden in Europe, while in the United States the wood is most commonly called Basswood. The genus is generally called Lime or Linden in Britain and Linden, Lime, or Basswood in North America but they are not closely related to the lime fruit. Allergies/Toxicity: Besides the standard health risks associated with any type of wood dust, no further health reactions have been associated with Basswood. I guess basswood is cheap but is it crap for guitars? Hardwoods and softwoods don’t refer to the harness of the wood, but how they reproduce. It grows commonly all over the Great Lakes region and well beyond. Also what is Basswood? I’m wondering this as well, since I want to use it for pyrography. I have been doing pyrography on thirty year old basswood and yes it is darker.