Chestnut

General Description

Sweet Chestnut is an English hardwood which used to be a cheap alternative to Oak. Good quality Chestnut is currently scarce and should not have 'ring-shakes' or yellow discolouration.

Chestnut may be used for interior joinery when kiln-dried and is stocked as logsawn yielding widths of 100mm - 220mm and lengths 2m - 3.5metre.

Thicknesses: 26mm, 32mm, 38mm and 52mm

Working Properties

  • Machines well
  • Satisfactory for nailing, screwing and gluing
  • Takes finishes well
  • Low resistance to shock
  • Low bending strength, not recommended for bending
  • Splits easily
  • Low stiffness

Physical Properties

  • Good overall strength
  • Excellent shock resistance
  • Good resistance to abrasive wear

Durability

  • Highly durable
  • Sapwood susceptible to lyctus and common furniture beetle
  • Sapwood and heartwood can be attacked by death watch beetle
  • Seasons slowly, liable to collapse and honeycombing

Main Uses

  • Alternative to Oak for structural work and panelling
  • Furniture
  • Turning