Beech as drawer carcass wood

[Don Loretto]

I have been given a few hundred feet of 1/2 inch ,kiln dried, American Beech. Do I dare use it for the drawers in a bedroom set made of white oak. I live in the Buffalo NY area, so there is quite a relative humidity swing during the year. Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

[Brian Kerley]

I don't have much experience with beech, nor do I know too much about it, but from what I've heard, in Europe Beech is used like Oak is used here. The stuff is fairly prevalent, so I don't see why it wouldn't work. I've got a 50 yr. old chair made of beech and it looks as good as the day my grandmother purchased it.

[John Shuk]

I'd be reticent having seen how much American Beech moves. In turning blanks it checks quickly and often. I don't see it as being super stable.

[John Keeton]

A lot of inexpensive gunstocks are made of beech, as well as handplanes by some known makers. It ain't pretty, but I'm satisfied it is stable enough for your use, so long as it is dry to begin with. Check this link http://www.planemaker.com/articles_beech.html but seems others disagree - http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=20955 Maybe the difference in American vs. European beech.

[Peter Quinn]

Used to use European beach at a flooring mill occasionally, I think it was red beech? Anyway I'm told it had been steamed to help stabilize it. I looked into ordering some american beech (it was cheaper) to make a work bench top and the wood buyer told me I would have problems as it suffered considerable seasonal movement. He said the reason European benches are made from beech is not because it is particular stable, but because it is cheap in Europe and soft enough to be easily reflattened, which it would need every few years.