American Chestnut
Castanea dentata · hardwood · Eastern North America · moderate movement
- Janka hardness 540 lbfred oak ≈ 1,290 lbf
- Density ≈ 30 lb/ft³specific gravity 0.43 at 12% MC
- Shrinkage — tangential 6.7%flatsawn width, green → ovendry
- Shrinkage — radial 3.4%quartersawn width
- T/R ratio 2.0 : 1higher = more cupping in flatsawn stock
Shop notes Now found almost only as reclaimed "wormy chestnut." Light, stable, rot-resistant, and easy to work — treat salvaged stock gently and check for old nails.
Seasonal movement at a glance
Width change for american chestnut across a typical indoor year — 6% moisture content in the heated winter to 12% in a humid summer:
| Board width | Flatsawn | Quartersawn |
|---|---|---|
| 6″ | 3/32″ (0.086″) | 1/32″ (0.044″) |
| 12″ | 3/16″ (0.172″) | 3/32″ (0.087″) |
| 24″ | 11/32″ (0.345″) | 3/16″ (0.175″) |
| 36″ | 17/32″ (0.517″) | 1/4″ (0.262″) |
Run your own numbers
Different width, different climate swing — the calculator below is preset to american chestnut:
Typical swings:
American Chestnut questions
How much does american chestnut move with the seasons?
A 12″-wide flatsawn american chestnut board moves about 3/16″ across a typical indoor swing from 6% to 12% moisture content; quartersawn, about 3/32″. Its tangential shrinkage is 6.7% and radial 3.4% (green to ovendry) — a moderate-movement wood.
How hard is american chestnut?
American Chestnut rates about 540 lbf on the Janka scale — soft enough to dent in daily use (red oak is roughly 1,290 lbf). Density runs about 30 lb/ft³ at indoor moisture levels.
Is american chestnut good for wide panels and tabletops?
Yes, with normal precautions: its 2.0:1 tangential-to-radial ratio is moderate. Still fasten solid tops so they can move across their width.
Similar species
Yellow-Poplar (Tulipwood) · Northern Catalpa · Red Alder · Butternut · Spanish Cedar · Sassafras
Shrinkage, specific gravity, and hardness from the Wood Handbook, FPL-GTR-282 (2021 edition), USDA Forest Products Laboratory (public domain). Values are species averages — individual boards vary with growth conditions and how they were dried.