What is Basswood?
Originally used by Native Americans as a material in rope, basswood trees are among the most commonly available sources of wood in North America. Basswood is characterized by ease of use in woodworking and a uniform texture and grain. The lumber provided by this species of tree is used by both craftsmen for small art projects as well as in the mass production of musical instruments.
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Location
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Found in the eastern and central portion of the United States, basswood is commonly located near the great lakes region.
Characteristics
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Physically, the basswood tree is identified by darkly colored bark with deep ridges. This covers a smooth, white sapwood. The average tree size is over 60 feet in height and 2 feet in diameter.
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Harvesting
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The cutting of basswood is possible with electric and manual tools. The wood is easily burned.
Usage
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Wood carvers use basswood because of the thickness of bark. The smooth surface beneath the bark can be painted without a primer coat.
Instruments
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Basswood is a common material in wind instruments such as recorders as well as the base of drums and other percussion instruments. Guitars also use the wood in their construction
Further Use
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Wood blinds are made using basswood because of the light weight of the wood is coupled with a strong stable flexibility.
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