About the wood
Sycamore
Platanus occidentalis
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
- 770 lbf
- Density
- 34.0 lb/ft³
- Origin
- Eastern United States
- IUCN Red List
- Least Concern
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.