Wood species

Sycamore

Platanus occidentalis · Platanaceae

A quiet, maple-like wood with one loud trick: cut on the quarter, the ray fleck is dense enough that the trade calls it lacewood. A big bottomland tree with trunks to 8 ft, native across North Carolina.

Janka hardness: 770 lbf
Density: 34.0 lb/ft³
Shrinkage T / R: 8.4 / 5.0 %
Origin: Eastern United States
IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Shop Sycamore in stock (12)All live edge slabs

Pictured: (Pre-Built) Sycamore Classic Cut Tabletop #PB156 98" x 52" x 1.9"

About Sycamore

Sycamore is mostly white to light tan sapwood with heartwood in darker reddish brown streaks, and on quartersawn faces the ray fleck is so dense the trade calls it lacewood. Texture is fine and even like maple; the grain is interlocked. It works easily with hand and machine tools, though that interlocked grain can act up when surfacing, so figured faces get a light final pass and the sander. It glues and finishes well, and a clear oil or hardwax keeps the fleck visible. It suits desks, dining tops and benches indoors; it is not a wood for outside. Ours is milled and kiln dried in Zebulon, NC.

Working & finishing

Works easily with hand and machine tools, though the interlocked grain can be troublesome in surfacing and machining, so figured faces get a light final pass and the drum sander. Turns, glues and finishes well; responds poorly to steam bending. A clear oil or hardwax keeps the pale color and shows the quartersawn ray fleck; a film finish suits a top that needs spill protection.

Care

Wipe spills promptly and clean with a damp cloth. At 770 lbf it is a medium-soft top, a step below soft maple, so use boards and trivets. Indoor use only; it is not decay resistant. Expect moderate seasonal width movement.

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