Basswood

Overview

Basswood (Tilia americana) is the carver's wood: pale, soft, fine-textured and uniform, with almost no figure. The Wood Database describes it as perhaps one of the most suitable species for hand carving, and notes its pale colour does not distract from carved patterns and is easy to paint. Choose it for carving, turned or painted work, and electric-guitar bodies, not for wear surfaces.

Pros

• Very easy to work and ideal for hand carving: soft (410 lbf), light (about 415 kg/m3), with straight, fine, even grain.
• Pale, even colour with few knots or defects makes a good ground for paint, colour or applied decoration.
• Glues and finishes well.
• Stable once dry; the Wood Database says that despite high initial shrinkage it is stable in service after drying.
• Widely available as lumber or carving blanks at a low price.

Cons

• Very soft: dents and bruises easily.
• Poor steam bending and nail holding, per the Wood Database.
• Non-durable: rated non-durable for heartwood decay, so keep it dry and indoors.
• High shrinkage while drying (6.6% radial, 9.3% tangential, 15.8% volumetric).
• Bland grain: most people choose it for what it can be shaped into rather than for its own appearance.

Variants and subspecies

• American basswood (Tilia americana) is the main North American lumber species and is covered here under the Wood Database's name "basswood".
• Called lime or linden in Europe; the Wood Database notes the same genus (Tilia) takes those names there.
• Carving blanks and "blocks" are sold separately, sometimes at higher prices per board foot than ordinary boards.
• Plywood and veneer: basswood is also made into veneer and plywood.

Working and finishing

The Wood Database says basswood is easy to work, being very soft and light, and glues and finishes well, but has poor steam-bending and nail-holding characteristics. Use a sharp edge for crisp carving. There is no characteristic odour. Screws and nails hold less well in a soft species, so use glue and joinery rather than fasteners alone.

Staining and finishing colour

Colour is pale white to light brown, mostly uniform across the face with subtle growth rings, and the wood is easy to paint or colour. The Wood Database says it glues and finishes well but does not rate staining. Test any stain on a scrap first.

Sustainability and handling

The Wood Database reports basswood as not listed in the CITES Appendices (checked 2026-09-30) and as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. US-grown timber is still covered by the Lacey Act, which as amended in 2008 prohibits trade in plants and timber taken, possessed, transported or sold in violation of law (Wikipedia's summary of the Act); buy from dealers who can name the source. It reports no health reactions beyond the standard risks of wood dust. The Wood Database's wood-dust article treats wood dust in general as an irritant or sensitizer and notes that fine dust can cause cumulative lung damage, so extract at the source and wear a respirator when sanding or machining.

Popular projects

Hand carvings, electric-guitar bodies, painted and decorated pieces and models. The Wood Database lists carvings, lumber, musical instruments (electric guitar bodies), veneer, plywood and pulp or fibre products.

Buying notes

Sold as lumber and carving blanks. List prices run from about $2.75 to $5.95 per board foot (various grades and thicknesses). Large carving blocks can cost more than the per-board-foot prices suggest. Pick straight boards with few defects, and keep them dry.