Silver Beech
Silver beech is sourced from sustainably managed forests and is becoming the favoured wood to replace rimu as the prime native species. It is excellent for turnery and cabinetry, and particularly good in brushes and dowels. It also is renowned for its steam-bending properties and was once used widely for motor body building.
Sustainability of supply
Silver beech is a medium-density hardwood, occurring in the wetter montane and subalpine forests throughout the western South Island and the East Coast and subalpine areas of the lower North Island.
In particular, it is sourced from Southland’s natural and second-growth forests. The trunk is straight and cylindrical with little tapering.
Compared with other native beeches, silver beech is less dense and more easily worked, but less durable.
Globally, there are few timbers that can match the Nothofagus spp for evenness of texture in all directions.
The timber performs well where strength, combined with appearance, is required.
All New Zealand indigenous timbers are now sourced from privately owned forests.
These forests are required to be managed to exacting standards under detailed long-term sustainable management plans.
Every forest managed for timber on a sustainable basis has its own individual Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry approved Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) Plan or SFM Permit.
As credible supplies of native rimu decline to minimal levels, beech forests will move to the forefront of providing New Zealanders with sustainable supplies of quality indigenous timbers.
At present, standing silver beech supply exceeds demand.
However, this is likely to change with the increasing need for quality hardwood sawn timber.
For further information please contact the Indigenous Forestry Unit, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Summary fact sheet for Silver Beech - Printable PDF
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Silver Beech Flooring
Silver Beech Olympic Torches
Quick Facts
Botanical name: Nothofagus menziesii
Other common names:
Tawhai, silver beech
Strength
View the mechanical properties for silver beech under the performance category below.
Durability
Both the heartwood and sapwood of silver beech are non-durable so it is unsuitable for outdoor applications. However, the timber can be used for interior and indoor furniture applications without the need for treatment.
Finishes
No particular considerations.
Working properties
The wood of silver beech is easily turned and shaped and, having no silica content, does not blunt cutting knives. It is also an excellent carving timber.
Appearance
The colour of silver beech varies with location and age, and between the sapwood and heartwood, but always has a pinkish to red overtone. The dry sapwood is a light pinkish grey and the heartwood pinkish brown.
Description
The colour of silver beech varies with location and age, and between the sapwood and heartwood.
It always has a pinkish to red overtone.
Lighter colouring resembles maple (Acer saccarhum), while darker tones resemble cherry (Prunus serotina).
The dry sapwood is a light pinkish grey, and the heartwood pinkish brown, slightly darker than heartwood totara.
A fine, even texture and red colouring make it an attractive furniture timber, and when French-polished it can resemble mahogany.
By steaming the timber for a longer period of time prior to kiln drying, a deep-pink colouring can be achieved.
The timber has wide colour variability, and, through careful selection and matching, individual boards and veneers can be chosen to give the desired end effect – either well matched or contrasting colour selections.
The grain pattern and deep lustre when polished provide a contemporary elegance to furniture and finished interior fitouts.
