Chestnut wood - strong, beautiful and...sweet

The fact that I didn't recognize chestnut wood when I saw wooden toys made by Nicu Rosioru, prompted me to find out more about this wood. What bothered me was that I should have recognized it, because it was not the first time I had seen a chestnut wood. I knew it looked like oak tree (probably also because of that I confused it), I knew of its warm, slightly brownish color and yet I didn't recognize it. The follow-up was some serious documentation and so I learned many new and interesting things about the chestnut.

Like most other species, the chestnut is of several kinds: European chestnut, American chestnut, Japanese chestnut, Chinese chestnut, etc. The one that grows in our country and whose wood is used for furniture, flooring or beams is the European chestnut, also called sweet chestnut or Spanish chestnut. Contrary to expectations, this is the chestnut tree whose fruit is edible, not the one we see in parks and gardens and whose flowers delight us in spring. Although very similar, that one belongs to a completely different family and its role is more decorative or for shade.

The European chestnut (Castanea sativa) grows naturally in Europe and the Middle East. It is most widespread in the Mediterranean because it loves the mild climate and moisture, but this is not the only area where it can be found. It's virtually widespread throughout Europe, with some areas - such as the UK - even growing timber. Here, too, they are commonly found in Maramureș. You probably know that it has been a problem in recent years, with many of the trees getting diseased and drying out. Fortunately, the disease seems to have been beaten and the trees are gradually recovering.

The chestnut tree (for simplicity's sake I will refer to the European chestnut as European chestnut) grows to a height of 30-35 m and a diameter of 1.5-2m. Even if it stops growing in height, its stem can continue to grow, thickening. The bark of the chestnut tree is very vertically grooved, sometimes with slanting cracks, giving the tree a very interesting appearance.

The fruit is very similar to the ornamental chestnut, but has 2 much smaller chestnuts inside.

Chestnut wood is hard and strong, yet has a certain elasticity. It is very rich in tannin which makes it resistant to outdoor conditions. It can also stand under water for a long time and is highly resistant to rotting. Excess tannin causes it to react with iron, so steel nails and screws are recommended. From its bark is extracted the vegetable tannin used in traditional natural leather processing.

In cross-section, a narrow area of yellowish-white to light grayish-white albumen and an area of light to medium brown heartwood can be seen on the outside. With increasing age the color darkens to reddish brown. The annual rings are highly visible, with clear differentiations between early and late wood within the ring.

The texture is coarse, uneven, straight-grained, sometimes spiraled. The pores in the earlywood are large and round, solitary, arranged in 2-4 rows. The pores in the latewood are much smaller, almost invisible to the naked eye, numerous and unevenly spread.

When freshly cut it is very similar to oak, but as it dries it differentiates. The lack of medullary rays in chestnut can be used as an identifier (they do not form mirrors).

Green lumber has a tendency to crack, so drying must be done very carefully to prevent cracking. Once dried it is very stable, with little dimensional variation. This is another reason why it is used extensively for large exterior construction, for cladding houses or for beams.

Both solid wood and veneer are used. Depending on the cut, the annual ring lines are parallel (radial cut) or wavy (tangential cut).

The interplay of ring patterns, large and small pores and tannin coloration make chestnut wood very beautiful and suitable for furniture.

In countries such as France and Spain, where chestnut has a tradition of furniture making and where chestnut has grown naturally, antique shops sell old pieces of chestnut furniture.

It is also used for flooring, both because of its beauty and because it is very stable when well dried, with negligible dimensional variation. In addition, the natural color of chestnut flooring brings warmth into the rooms where it is installed.

The natural color of chestnut is very beautiful and warm. That's why one of the best-selling colors for wood paneling, especially outdoors, is chestnut. Those less familiar with wood should be aware that chestnut furniture does not necessarily have to be chestnut. It can only be chestnut in color, the wood being of a different species.

In southern Europe the spread of chestnut is very similar to that of the vine. The explanation is very interesting. Its very good resistance to rotting and its hardness meant that it was used extensively in the past for vine arachis. So, over time, it has come to be planted next to vineyards.

Another interesting use is in the manufacture of barrels, especially those for aging balsamic vinegar. The tannic acid in chestnut wood gives this vinegar, which is highly prized in Italian and international gastronomy, a special and distinctive taste.

I am very happy to have started this series of articles on wood species because, each time, I learn new and special things about species I already knew. And each time, even before I finish the article, I already know what I am going to write about. So get ready for elm and birch.