Sweetgum
(Liquidambar styraciflua)
Range
Sweetgum grows from southwestern Connecticut westward almost to Kansas and southward to eastern Texas and central Florida. The commercial range in the United States is confined largely to the moist lands of the lower Ohio and Mississippi Basins and to the lowlands of the southeastern coast.
Properties
Sweetgum is a moderately heavy wood with an average weight of 36 pounds per cubic foot. The wood is hard, with a specific gravity of 0.46, moderately strong when used as a beam or post, moderately stiff, and has moderately high shock resistance.
Sweetgum has very large shrinkage in drying, and the sapwood and heartwood require different drying processes. The heartwood has low to moderate decay resistance. In nail-holding ability and in ability to resist splitting by nails and screws, sweetgum is rated intermediate. The heartwood requires special treatment before gluing can be done with best results.
Sweetgum ranks above average in turning, boring, and steam-bending properties but somewhat below average in the other machining properties. Its heartwood can be finished in a wide variety of color effects and the sapwood can be readily stained if a darker color is desired.
Uses
The principal uses of sweetgum are for lumber, veneer, plywood, and slack cooperage. The lumber goes principally into boxes and crates, furniture, interior trim, and millwork. Veneer is used mainly for boxes, crates, baskets, furniture, and interior woodwork. Some sweetgum is used for crossties and fuel, and comparatively small amounts go into fencing, excelsior, and pulpwood.
Description
Heartwood is reddish brown and occasionally variegated with streaks of darker color. Pores are so small that they are not visible except upon magnification. Growth rings are usually indistinct or inconspicuous. Rays are visible on quartersawed faces.