Lightweight, soft, white, stable and easy to work. Excellent for wood carving.

Grades: SEL & BTR, FAS KD
Thickness & Finishes: S2S 13/16" Rough 1, 1-1/4, 1-1/2, 2"
Widths: 4" - 12"
Lengths: 8' - 16'
Grains: Very fine grain with uniform texture
Colors: Cream to white.
Misc. Information: Wood Carvers specialty. Machines and works easily. Alternative; POPLAR, PINE.

Basswood is a soft wood. It is extremely light in weight and is almost without color -- although some of the wood can be pale pink or brown. It is never used where strength is important.

Basswood is, by and large, one of those non-glamorous woods popular for such low-key uses as corestock, boxes and crossbanding.

However, basswood is also known as the woodcarver's favorite species. In the Middle Ages, lime (a common name for basswood's European species) was called a holy wood because it was used so often to carve religious figures. It works well with hand or machine tools and is "kind" to cutting tool surfaces as long as they are kept sharp. The wood is also ideal for precision working and stability and is easy to cut while maintaining its shape. As a carving wood, its assets include its soft nature and the fact that it cuts easily, yielding a clean and polished looking surface no matter what cut of the grain is used. Its many uses include hand carving and turnery, piano keys, harps, pattern making and drawing boards.

In less glamorous applications, basswood is commonly used for making crates and boxes, charcoal, hatblocks and excelsior. Another common use of basswood in the United States is for beehive frames. Because of its light weight, it is also used for making artificial limbs. It is also used for millwork such as mouldings, sashes and doors.