Wood species

Sweet Gum

Liquidambar styraciflua · Altingiaceae

Two woods in one slab: pale sap gum and reddish brown red gum, with a satin sheen that once sold it as satin walnut. Only older mature trees carry the darker heartwood.

Janka hardness: 850 lbf
Shrinkage T / R: 10.2 / 5.3 %
Origin: Southeastern United States
IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Shop Sweet Gum in stock (7)All live edge slabs

(Pre-Built) Sweet Gum Live Edge Tabletop #PB194 128" x 44" - 47" x 2.1" — overhead view — Oak City Customs

Pictured: (Pre-Built) Sweet Gum Live Edge Tabletop #PB194 128" x 44" - 47" x 2.1"

About Sweet Gum

Sweet Gum shows two woods in one slab: wide sapwood in white to light pink or tan, sold as sap gum, and heartwood in gray to reddish brown, sold as red gum, sometimes with darker black streaks. Grain is interlocked with a very fine, uniform texture and good natural luster, which earned it the old trade name satin walnut. Interlocked grain means planing can tear out, so the surface gets finished with the sander, and it warps hard in its first drying, which is why ours goes through the kiln before flattening. It stains and finishes well. It suits dining tops, desks and benches indoors, with the heartwood-to-sapwood shift as the character. Ours is kiln dried in Zebulon, NC.

Working & finishing

Generally easy to work, but planing can tear out on the interlocked grain, so the flattening pass is light and the surface is finished on the drum sander. Turns, glues, stains and finishes well and steam bends moderately well. Sweet gum warps and distorts badly in its first drying and still moves appreciably in service, so it is flattened only after the kiln. A hardwax oil brings up the satin luster; a film finish suits a top that needs spill protection.

Care

Wipe spills promptly and clean with a damp cloth. Expect more seasonal width movement than oak or walnut and keep the top on a base that lets it move. Indoor use only; the sapwood is perishable and the heartwood is not decay resistant.

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