Basswood #1 Common Lumber

Taking a consultative approach to best understand the needs and desires of our customers, we are committed to Delivering the Difference with our specialty lumber products. Please contact your Sales or Specifications Representative for a consultation to identify the best product for your application.

The preferred choice for carving, models, sculptures, and even musical instruments, Basswood is cherished for its incredible workability. Its softness, light weight, and flexibility make it effortless to manipulate even by hand. Basswood readily accepts stains, paints, and polishes, bringing a high level of customization to any project. Naturally light and evenly textured, choose Basswood for the perfect carving and modeling hardwood.

To determine the appropriate sub-species, color specification or grade, please consult with your Sales or Specifications Representative.

Why #1 Common Basswood?

• Light natural hue and grain
• Effortless workability
• Easily finished, glued, and painted
• Domestically harvested and readily available
• Lightweight and flexible

Benefits of Plain Sawn Lumber:

Cutting tangentially through the tree’s growth rings, Plain Sawn Basswood utilizes the entire log while minimizing waste. The result is a grain pattern that displays a very traditional and recognizable cathedral pattern. This technique maximizes the amount of bright sapwood in Basswood for beautifully light and clear cuts.

Contact your Sales or Specifications Representative for more information on how to configure Basswood for your project.

#1 Common Grade Lumber:

#1 Common grade is often referred to as the Cabinet Makers Grade because of its adaptability to the standard sizes of kitchen cabinet doors used throughout North America. #1 Common is widely used in the manufacture of furniture parts as well.

#1 Common grade includes boards that are a minimum of 3” wide before kiln drying and 4’ long and will yield a minimum clear face cuttings from 66 2/3% (8/12ths). The smallest clear cuttings allowed in this grade are 3” by 3’ and 4” by 2’. The number of these clear cuttings is determined by the size of the board. Both faces of the board must meet the minimum requirement for #1 Common.

Please consult with your Sales or Specifications Representative to guarantee you receive the product that best meets your requirements.

Color/Appearance:

Basswood produces beautifully smooth and largely clear faces. The bright, pale white hue is mostly uniform with little variation between sapwood and heartwood sections. The subtle grain runs in a pleasing regular pattern with even texture and moderate natural luster. Basswood is easily finished for a classic and warm honey hue or more personalized look to fit the aesthetic demands of any project. Bright and cheery, Basswood provides a lightening effect to natural wood projects.

Workability:

One of Basswood’s most desirable characteristics is the ease with which it can be worked. Forgiving and lightweight, Basswood requires little effort to shape with both hand tools and machinery. Basswood is ideal for carving and modeling projects where full advantage of its smooth texture and softness can be taken. It accepts finishes, polish, and paint readily for maximum customization potential. When dried, Basswood does have initially high shrinkage, but is quite stable once the process is complete.

Sustainability:

American Basswood is a readily available hardwood species. Widely distributed across the central and eastern United States, Basswood constitutes 1.4% of U.S. hardwood growing stock. This hardwood isn’t just valuable a lumber product, but also as a cornerstone of ecosystems, providing a preferred food source for deer and pollinators. The Forest Inventory Analysis (FIA) shows that Basswood is increasing in net volume each year, improving the outlook for both timber use and ecological sustainability.

We recognize the importance of ethically harvested lumber. As our most valuable resource, sustainably harvested forests increase the rate of carbon sequestration and significantly cut carbon emissions. Wood is a renewable and sustainable material for the built environment, requiring less energy than alternatives like concrete or steel. From harvesting to recycling, lumber is the most carbon-efficient choice for building materials. Wood is of the few elements that can increase sustainability in a building’s life cycle, reduce waste, and create positive biophilic health benefits. Increasingly, architects and designers are calling for a return to wood as the prominent basic building material.

As an early adopter of FSC®, we recognize the importance of sustainably harvested lumber. FSC® Certified lumber is available upon request. Contact your Sales or Specifications Representative for more information.

• Kitchen Cabinets
• Kitchen Cabinet Doors
• Signage
• Vanity Cabinets
• Vanity Cabinet Doors
• Wall Paneling
• Wall Protection
• Interior Millwork