Beech KD12
Finish state · default condition
KD12 = kiln-dried, 12 % moisture content
Standard furniture/joinery condition: use for indoor structural, turned and machined parts.
Values for the KD12 condition
Other Beech tempers and conditions
Beech is listed in 4 conditions; see the grade overview at Beech.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Green / unseasoned | Freshly sawn stock for green woodturning, riving and bending blanks — strength is roughly halved. | — | 70 | 2 | — | 0.3 W/m·K |
Thermally modified | Pick for dimensionally stable, decay-resistant cladding or sauna/wet-area parts where reduced toughness is acceptable. | — | 70 | 0.7 | — | 0.13 W/m·K |
Air-dried, 15–18 % moisture content | Shed-dried stock for outdoor-sheltered joinery or as feedstock before final kilning. | — | 95 | 1.5 | — | 0.19 W/m·K |
KD12DefaultThis page Kiln-dried, 12 % moisture content | Standard furniture/joinery condition: use for indoor structural, turned and machined parts. | — | 110 | 1.2 | — | 0.16 W/m·K |
What is Beech KD12?
Beech KD12 is Beech supplied in the KD12 condition — standard furniture/joinery condition: use for indoor structural, turned and machined parts. Beech KD12 has a tensile strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi), stronger than 97% of natural material grades. Elongation at break is 1.2% and the elastic modulus is 14 GPa (2.03 Msi). Beech KD12 has a density of 0.72 g/cm³ (0.026 lb/in³), heavier than 61% of natural material grades.
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 80/100, better than 80% of natural material grades
- Stiff — 14 GPa (2.03 Msi), better than 79% of natural material grades
Limitations
- Needs corrosion protection — 20/100, worse than 98% of natural material grades
Beech KD12 properties
Typical room-temperature values for Beech KD12; 12 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Beech reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among natural material grades.
Physical2
Beech KD12 has a density of 0.72 g/cm³ (0.026 lb/in³), heavier than 61% of natural material grades.
Mechanical9
Beech KD12 has a tensile strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi), stronger than 97% of natural material grades. Elongation at break is 1.2% and the elastic modulus is 14 GPa (2.03 Msi).
Thermal5
Beech KD12 is rated for continuous service to 100°C (212 °F). It conducts heat at 0.16 W/m·K (0.0924 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 64% of natural material grades. Thermal expansion is 4 µm/m·K (2.22 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
Beech KD12 is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 4 kV/mm (101.6 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁰ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental1
Corrosion resistance is poor (20/100), worse than 98% of natural material grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Beech KD12 takes about 11 MJ of energy and emits 0.45 kg of CO₂ — more than 56% of natural material grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability2
Beech KD12's machinability is very good (70/100, worse than 67% of natural material grades).
Common Calculations4
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Beech KD12
Is Beech easy to machine?
Cuts, turns and drills cleanly with carbide or sharp HSS; keep feeds up and tools sharp or the close grain scorches, and expect moderate tool wear from its density.
Can Beech be welded?
Not weldable — joined by PVA/urea-formaldehyde/PU adhesives, dowels, mortise-and-tenon or mechanical fasteners (pre-drill to avoid splitting).
Can Beech be formed, bent or molded?
Best-in-class steam bender: steam ~1 h per 25 mm at 100 °C and bend over a form with a tension strap; also peels well for plywood and moulded seat shells.
What surface finishes work on Beech?
Sands to a very smooth surface and needs no grain filler; takes dye unevenly (blotching) so use a conditioner or gel stain, then lacquer/oil — treat or coat for any damp exposure.
Beech chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| celluloseoven-dry basis | 42 – 48 | 45 |
| hemicellulose (mainly xylan)high xylan typical of hardwoods | 27 – 35 | 31 |
| ligninsyringyl-rich hardwood lignin | 20 – 25 | 22 |
| extractiveslow — poor natural durability | 0.5 – 2 | 1.2 |
| ash | 0.3 – 0.8 | 0.5 |
Beech KD12 — frequently asked
What is Beech KD12 used for?
Beech KD12 is typically used for bent furniture (Thonet-style), tool handles, flooring, kitchen worktops and toys. In short: best steam-bending hardwood; even close-grained texture; poor untreated decay resistance.
What is the tensile strength of Beech KD12?
Beech KD12 has a typical tensile strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) — stronger than 97% of natural material grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is Beech KD12 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (70/100, worse than 67% of natural material grades). Cuts, turns and drills cleanly with carbide or sharp HSS; keep feeds up and tools sharp or the close grain scorches, and expect moderate tool wear from its density.
Can Beech KD12 be welded?
Not weldable — joined by PVA/urea-formaldehyde/PU adhesives, dowels, mortise-and-tenon or mechanical fasteners (pre-drill to avoid splitting).
What surface finishes work on Beech KD12?
Sands to a very smooth surface and needs no grain filler; takes dye unevenly (blotching) so use a conditioner or gel stain, then lacquer/oil — treat or coat for any damp exposure.
Can Beech KD12 be formed, bent or molded?
Best-in-class steam bender: steam ~1 h per 25 mm at 100 °C and bend over a form with a tension strap; also peels well for plywood and moulded seat shells.
What is the maximum service temperature of Beech KD12?
Beech KD12 is rated for continuous use to about 100°C (212 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- Wood Handbook — Wood as an Engineering Material (FPL-GTR-282) — USDA Forest Products Laboratory (2021)
- EN 13556 — Round and sawn timber: nomenclature of timbers used in Europe (FASY) — CEN (2003)
- EN 350 — Durability of wood and wood-based products — CEN (2016)
- DIN 68364 — Characteristic values of wood species: density, modulus of elasticity, strength — DIN (2003)
- Species property data for Fagus sylvatica (European beech) — Thünen-Institut / Wood Database compilations (2022)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.