hardwood · Castanea sativa
Sweet Chestnut wood properties
Also known as: spanish chestnut, european chestnut.
| Type | hardwood |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Castanea sativa |
| Modulus of elasticity (MOE) | 1,248,000 psi |
| Specific gravity | 0.59 |
| Density (approx) | 37 lb/ft³ (3.1 lb per board foot) |
| Janka hardness | 680 lbf |
| Shrinkage (tangential / radial) | 6.9% / 4.2% |
| Region | Europe and Asia Minor |
A 1 in x 6 in x 8 ft board of Sweet Chestnut weighs about 12.3 lb (roughly 37 lb per cubic foot). Its Janka hardness of 680 lbf is harder than about 29% of the woods in our database.
Uses and working notes
Common uses: furniture, veneer, carving.
Durability: Durable to very durable, yet still prone to insect attack.
Workability: Generally easy, but splits readily so nail with care; its high tannin corrodes iron.
Use this data
Similar woods
Woods with comparable hardness and density to Sweet Chestnut:
How these numbers were sourced
MOE, SG (12% MC), Janka and shrinkage from The Wood Database (cites USDA FPL Wood Handbook). CT/CR omitted: sweet chestnut is not listed in the FPL/Hoadley dimensional change coefficient table. Uses, region, durability and workability summarized from The Wood Database. Price indicative.
Values shown as estimates rather than sourced constants: typicalPricePerBF_usd.
Sources
These calculators are for planning and estimation. Engineering results (shelf sag, wood movement) use published average material properties; real boards vary by grade, grain, moisture and defects. Verify load-bearing designs with a professional.