Platane

The plane tree is a European deciduous tree that is mainly found in cultivated stands. It is often used as a tree for avenues or in gardens and parks. It is a typical “city tree” that Napoleon often had planted in avenues, probably to provide shade for his soldiers.

The wood has a straight grain with a regular pattern. The color of the wood is reddish-gray to brown, turning wine red when steamed and darkening when exposed to air. Color variations within the trunk are common and often unavoidable. There are packages with strong mirrors. As a rule, plane tree is quartered, with the rays of the pith being cut at a 180° angle, creating a decorative, elliptical pattern.
The wood is moderately hard and quite light (0.65 g/cm3). Its mechanical properties in terms of hardness, tensile strength, and compressive strength are similar to those of oak.
Plane tree wood is easy to work with using all types of tools. Planed surfaces have a beautiful sheen. Drying is also quite easy, although there is a slight tendency to warp. Drying should be carried out slowly, even though plane tree wood dries very quickly, in order to prevent internal collapse damage.