Scientific Name
Salix alba
Trade Name
Willow
Family Name
Salicaceae
Common Names
Black willow, Common willow, Cricket bat willow, Dudley willow, Goodding willow, Huntingdon willow, Pil, Sauce, Saule, Sauz, Southwestern black willow, Swamp willow, Vitpil, Weide, Western black willow, White willow, Wilg, Willow
Regions of Distribution
Africa, Eastern Europe, Mediterranean Sea Region, Oceania and S.E. Asia, Western Europe
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Switzerland, United Kingdom
Common Uses
Artificial limbs, Baskets, Bearings & bushings, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Casks, Charcoal, Cooperages, Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Figured veneer, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Interior construction, Marquetry, Packing cases, Paneling , Pulp/Paper products, Sporting Goods, Toys, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Wainscotting
Environmental Profile
| Generally secure within most of its natural habitat, but note exceptions. | ||||||||||||
| Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center | ||||||||||||
| Abundant |
Natural habitat includes Switzerland, but it currently classified as Endangered in the wild in Malta
Distribution Overview
Native to Europe, northern Africa, and central Asia, but is naturalized in southeastern Canada and eastern United States. The tree usually grows near cities in wet soils of stream banks and valleys.
Heartwood Color
| White | ||||||||||||
| Pale red to pink | ||||||||||||
| White to cream | ||||||||||||
| White pinkish |
Sapwood Color
| White to yellow | ||||||||||||
| Whitish |
Grain
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Even |
Texture
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Even textured |
Natural Durability
| Non-resistant to termites | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to insect attack | ||||||||||||
| Perishable | ||||||||||||
| Non durable | ||||||||||||
| Very durable |
The heartwood has very little natural resistance to decay and is susceptible to attack by insects. The sapwood is vulnerable to attack by the powder-post and common furniture beetles. Trees and logs are vulnerable to attack by forest longhorn or Buprestid beetle.
Odor
| No specific smell or taste |
Kiln Schedules
| Drying (speed) is fast | ||||||||||||
| UK=H US=T10D4S/T8D3S Fr=7 | ||||||||||||
| UK=H |
Drying Defects
| Water pockets |
Ease of Drying
| Fairly Easy | ||||||||||||
| Easy | ||||||||||||
| Moisture content should be monitored to insure uniformity | ||||||||||||
| Moderate | ||||||||||||
| Dries fairly quickly with minimum degrade |
Tree Size
Some trees are grown for cricket bats and these are harvested when they attain a diameter of about 18 inches (50 cm).
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect
| Slight bluting effect on cutting tools | ||||||||||||
| Blunting effect on machining is slight |
Boring
| Easy, especially when cutters are kept very sharp |
Carving
| The operation requires sharp cutting edges for best results | ||||||||||||
| Good results |
Cutting Resistance
| Easy to saw | ||||||||||||
| Low resistance | ||||||||||||
| Cutting tools should be kept very sharp to prevent woolly surfaces |
Gluing
| Easy to glue | ||||||||||||
| Excellent gluing properties |
Mortising
To prevent rough surfaces, sharp cutting edges are required in most machining operations, including mortising
Moulding
The timber responds well to ordinary tools in moulding operations, with very good results
Movement in Service
| Holds its place well in use | ||||||||||||
| Dimensionally stable |
Nailing
| Good nailing properties |
Planing
| Requires sharp cutting edges to prevent fuzzy surfaces | ||||||||||||
| Reduced cutting angles recommended | ||||||||||||
| Planes and works well with ordinary machine tools | ||||||||||||
| Easy to plane |
Resistance to Impregnation
| Sapwood is permeable | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood is resistant | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood is highly resistant | ||||||||||||
| Sapwood is treatable |
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to machine |
Response to hand tools, with sharp cutting edges, is very good.
Routing & Recessing
The material responds readily to sharp cutting edges to yield good results in routing operations
Sanding
| Good characteristics |
Screwing
| Good screwing properties |
Turning
| Sharp cutting edges necessary to prevent woolly surfaces | ||||||||||||
| Easy to turn |
Veneering Qualities
| No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting | ||||||||||||
| Easy to cut |
Steam Bending
| Poor |
Polishing
| Satisfactory results | ||||||||||||
| High finish |
Staining
| Finish is generally satisfactory |
Strength Properties
| Max. crushing strength = low | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = low | ||||||||||||
| Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low | ||||||||||||
| Toughness (total work) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = very low | ||||||||||||
| Weight and density are about average | ||||||||||||
| Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Toughness (total work) = low | ||||||||||||
| Surfaces may dent easily | ||||||||||||
| Hardness (side grain) = soft | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Air-Dried condition about 12% moisture content |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 4643 | 8153 | psi |
| Density | 25 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Hardness | 568 | lbs | |
| Impact Strength | 37 | 31 | inches |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 2036 | 3898 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | 1138 | psi | |
| Stiffness | 952 | 1125 | 1000 psi |
| Toughness | 222 | inch-lbs | |
| Work to Maximum Load | 8 | 12 | inch-lbs/in3 |
| Specific Gravity | 0.34 | 0.38 | |
| Weight | 25 | 25 | lbs/ft3 |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 326 | 573 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | 400 | kg/m3 | |
| Hardness | 257 | kg | |
| Impact Strength | 93 | 78 | cm |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 143 | 274 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | 80 | kg/cm2 | |
| Stiffness | 66 | 79 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Toughness | 255 | cm-kg | |
| Work to Maximum Load | 0.56 | 0.84 | cm-kg/cm3 |
| Specific Gravity | 0.34 | 0.38 |
References
Armstrong, F.H.,1960,The Strength Properties of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, London Bulletin,No.45
Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO
Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1937,A Handbook of Home-Grown Timbers,HMSO
HMSO. 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R. H. Farmer, Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed.
I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting
Lavers, G.M. 1966. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50. Ministry of Technology, Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, London.
Lavers, G.M.,1983,The Strength Properties of Timber (3rd ed. revised Moore G.L.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Report (formerly Bulletin No.50)
Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California.
Little, E.L. 1980. The Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Trees – Western Region. Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York.
Redding, L.W.,1971,Resistance of Timbers to Impregnation with Creosote,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Bulletin No.54 pp.43
Scott, M.H.,1953,Utilisation Notes on South African Timbers,South African Forestry Department Bulletin No.36
Smith, D.N.,1959,The Natural Durability of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Record,No.30
T.D.A.,1942,Timber Leaflet – No.67 Willow,TRADA Timber Leaflet
T.R.A.D.A.,1942,Home-grown timber trees – their characteristics, cultivation and Uses,TRADA
WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing: Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center (WCMC, Plants Program, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.