Basswood
Tilia americana
Hardness
Very soft, dents easily; great for carving, poor for floors.
Overview
The carver's wood, soft, fine, and nearly grainless, it cuts like butter in any direction. Too soft for furniture, but unmatched for detail carving.
Commonly built
- Carvings
- Relief panels
- Models
- Shutters
Appearance
Pale creamy white to light brown, with a very fine, even, almost featureless grain. Minimal figure.
Recommended uses
Uses to avoid
Similar species
Comparable on hardness, type, and workability, useful when this species isn't available.
Working notes
Extremely soft and easy to carve in any direction without tearout, the standard for hand and relief carving. Holds crisp detail. Too soft for surfaces that take wear. Paints well.
Wood movement
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn basswood panel moves roughly 0.52 inch across a typical seasonal humidity swing (about 6% to 12% moisture content). Use the wood movement calculator to run your own board size and moisture range.
How much does Basswood move? → See flatsawn vs. quartersawn figures and a worked example.
Common questions
How hard is Basswood?
Basswood has a Janka hardness of 410 lbf, a measure of how well it resists denting and wear.
Is Basswood suitable for outdoor use?
Basswood is best used indoors; it is not naturally suited to sustained outdoor or wet conditions.
How easy is Basswood to work with?
Basswood has Excellent workability for cutting, shaping, and joinery.
How much does Basswood move seasonally?
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn basswood panel moves roughly 0.52 inch across a typical seasonal humidity swing (about 6% to 12% moisture content).
Finishing notes
Soft, fine, even grain that carves beautifully but drinks up stain and blotches badly, so condition well or use dye if coloring. Most often left natural under a light clear finish, or painted. A wash coat of dewaxed shellac before any pigment stain is close to mandatory for even color.
Community photos
Real photos from woodworkers who've used basswood, reviewed before they appear here.
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Wood data varies by source and sample. How we source and review our data.