Lime wood is not a spectacular wood like ulm or acaciabut it is unfair to ignore it. It is the same as neglecting the good and quiet child, giving more attention to the clever but naughty one. Because lime is a problem-free wood that dries without disturbing warping or cracking and is very easy to work. Although it has the strength oak, is appreciated primarily for the ease with which it can be carved. Let's see what other surprises linden and linden wood has in store.
The old lime tree
The lime tree is one of the oldest trees on the planet. It is thought to have been around since the Cretaceous, with fossilised linden wood found in several places in the northern hemisphere. It is a long-lived tree that can live for more than 1000 years. For example, in the Imperial Castle in Nuremberg is a lime tree said to have been planted over 1000 years ago by the wife of King Heinrich II of Germany (Rex Romanorum). Slovenia also has a famous lime tree - Najevska lipa - which is over 700 years old and is used as a meeting place for various events.
The most famous lime tree in Romania is Eminescu's Linden located in the Copou Garden in Iasi. It is a symbol of the city and is over 500 years old. Another famous linden is also found in Bârnova, believed to be almost 700 years old, or in Maramureș. This is where George Pop de Băsești's Union Linden is believed to be over 300 years old. Legend has it that it was in the shade of this linden tree that those who planned the Great Union met.
The lime tree is considered by the people of the villages a holy wood because "where there is a lime tree, it never thunders". That's why it is used to build churches and church objects. At Whitsun, holy linden branches are placed at the gate to protect the household from evil.
Lime tree
There are more than 30 types of linden around the world, differing in leaf shape, flower shape and size. In addition to these, there are several other hybrid species resulting from crossbreeding. The most common in Europe is Tilia europaea, a hybrid between Tilia cordata and Tilia platyphyllos. If you are curious to search for information in English about lime you should look for lime tree or linden tree.Different types of linden exist in North America, the Middle East, China or Japan, with the area of development being in the northern hemisphere. The tree grows to a height of 20-40 m and a diameter of 1.5-2 m. It has a rich crown and is prized for retaining a lot of dust from the atmosphere (third after oak and elm). The flowers - small inflorescences at the end of a slender stem - are yellow and have an unmistakable scent that envelops towns towards the end of May.
Lime is highly prized for its healing powers. The flowers are best known as a remedy for coughs, colds or nervous or anxious conditions. But in pharmacy, both human and veterinary, the wood or bark of the tree is also used.
Characteristics of lime wood
Even though there are so many species of lime trees, the difference between their wood is inscrutable. The colour is yellowish-white to cream with slightly reddish or greenish tinges. It darkens with age to dark yellow or light brown. The sapwood is indistinguishable from the heartwood and the annual rings are very inconspicuous. The fibre is straight, uniform, homogeneous and fine.
The density of lime wood is 560 kg/m³ when the wood is dry. It is a light wood although it has very good strength. It dries fairly quickly, does not crack, and warping during drying is very small. However, it has a medium to low durability and is easily attacked by fungi or insects. It is therefore not recommended for outdoor use.
Lime wood is easy to process, both by machine and by hand. When working by hand, very sharp tools must be used because it tends to splinter. It is easy to glue and can be beaten, sieved, oiled or lacquered without any problems. Did I mention that the lime tree looks a lot like poplarThe difference is the slightly reddish colour and slightly denser fibre. This makes the yew colour more evenly than the poplar, which stains easily.
Uses of lime wood
Because it is light and soft, linden wood is very easy to work, and is probably the most commonly used wood for hand carving. It is very popular with beginners because it does not resist and does not crack. It is used in the form of lumber, aesthetic or technical veneer, tackle.
Lime wood is made frames for paintings or mirrors. It is a very good raw material for decorative objects such as spoons or small sculptures. It is easily turned into bowls or other types of dishes. Because it is light, it is used to make electric guitars and other musical instruments.
Furniture is also made from lime wood. There was a time when, along with poplar, it was used extensively to make furniture called poor art. It was preferred to poplar because of its ease of processing, but at the time it was much more expensive. In the meantime, the price difference is not so great, with poplar also increasing in value. I discovered the difference between the two species by finishing them. In general appearance they were not very different, the slightly reddish colour of the lime making the difference. But when finishing, the difference was heaven to earth. Whereas poplar is very difficult to stain, almost always coming out with spots and needing further smoothing, lime stains beautifully, evenly and rarely needs touching up.
Because it is lightweight, despite its low outdoor resistance, it is used for obtaining shutters. It is recommended, however, to install in places protected by awnings or where the window is set back inwards. And to the delight of children (and others) it is used to make puppets, i.e. the main actors in puppet theatres.
Article completes the collection Wood specieswhich you can access at any time on the website. If it might be of interest to others, you can share it. And if you have any questions, queries or additions, please leave them in the space below. As you are already used to, I will answer you. 🙂
Greetings!
I need some advice...
I want to make a covered terrace and a riffle-like fence out of lime wood. Posts, beams, board support (don't know the technical name).
Is this wood suitable for such a purpose? If not, what would be the disadvantages compared to fir wood?
Thank you!
Good evening!
Lime wood is not strong on the outside, it is similar to poplar. Fir is a much better choice.
Lime trees absorb more moisture and rot faster. It's also a fairly soft wood, more suitable for carving than for this kind of work, which also involves some strength.
Below is a link to an article on the strength of wood outdoors.
All the best!
https://revistadinlemn.ro/2019/06/12/cele-mai-rezistente-specii-de-lemn-la-exterior/
Can linden trees be used for indoor steps?
It is not recommended because it is a softer wood. Scratches and indentations occur more quickly than in other species.
Much more suitable is beech, ash, oak or softwood.
Is it correctly said "solid yew wood"?
Yes, that is correct.
Wood can be in various forms: timber, veneer, chippings (for chipboard, for example), sawdust, flour or dust. The term 'solid wood' refers to the use of wood in the form of lumber, timbers or beams. In practice, 'solid lime wood' means lime lumber, not its density or weight.
Hello!
I'd like to buy a solid basswood chest of drawers for using books, clothes and other household items indoors, somewhere where the temperature sometimes stays low, because we don't always use the place.
Is lime recommended for this?
Good evening!
If the area is not wet, there is no problem.
Being comfortable, I think it is already protected with varnish or oil.
If it isn't, my recommendation is to give it a coat of oil or wax. It would be more protected from dirt and excessive moisture absorption.
I have carved in linden wood and when I applied the varnish, it made marks dt fiber, some brown streaks.What do you advise me to do to stop those streaks?
There are several reasons for streaks: the wood has not been properly sanded, the varnish has been too thick, the brush is not of good quality and does not apply evenly.
My recommendation is to sand the wood well before applying varnish. Lime wood is softer and needs a finer sanding. Use 150 or 180 grit sandpaper. After sanding, dust thoroughly with a soft, clean cotton cloth (an old T-shirt).
Use colorless varnish. With colored varnish, if the transitions overlap, a dark stripe appears on the overlap area. If you want to stain, it is better to stain the wood before and after drying, apply colorless varnish.
Thin the varnish before application. It looks much better if you apply 2-3 thin coats rather than one thick one.
Instead of a paintbrush, use a small paint brush. You can find them in paint and varnish shops. It is much more evenly applied. Note that there is a special brush for thinner-based varnishes. The ones for water-based varnishes do not hold, as the sponge will become too wide when in contact with the thinner.
Good luck!