UTILIZATION OF SYCAMOKE. 3 
has also a slightly mottled appearance, due to the large medullary 
rays. In quarter-sawed wood these rays are very conspicuous and 
resemble the figure in quartered oak. The effect produced in quarter- 
sawed sycamore is decidedly different, however, from that in quarter- 
sawed oak, principally because the rays are darker than the rest of 
the wood, while in oak, as in most other woods, they are lighter. 
Sycamore takes several different finishes in a very attractive manner. 
PROPERTIES. 
Sycamore wood is moderately hard, moderately heavy, moderately 
stiff, moderately strong, has moderately good shock-resisting ability, 
and is difficult to split. It shrinks moderately and is inclined to 
warp, but not excessively, in seasoning. Table 1 gives the results of 
a large number of tests on sycamore wood from two different locali- 
ties. Material for these tests was taken from five trees in each 
locality. 
From Table 2 it appears that on the average sycamore shrinks a 
little more than white oak in the radial direction, a trifle less in volume, 
and considerably less in the tangential direction. The ratio of 
radial to tangential shrinkage is much less in sycamore (1 to 1.49) 
than, in white oak (1 to 1.84). 
Table 2. — Average properties of sycamore wood as compared with white oak. 
[Oak=100.] 
Per cent. 
Specific gravity 76. 7 
Shrinkage : 
Volume 99. 3 
Radial 104. 1 
Tangential ' ." .84. 4 
Strength in bending 75. 2 
Strength in compression parallel to grain. . 82. 7 
Strength in compression perpendicular to grain 61. 9 
Stiffness ....... i ,'. 80. 9 
Hardness , 58.2 
Shock-resisting ability! 56. 4 
•Shearing strength parallel to grain 76.6 
The specific gravity of dry sycamore is only about three-fourths 
that of white oak. Although in respect to the different mechanical 
properties sycamore ranks lower than white oak, compared on the 
basis of dry weight, or specific gravity when dry, sycamore excels the 
oak in strength in compression parallel to the grain, and in stiffness; 
is about equal to it in shearing strength parallel to grain and strength 
in bending; and is below it in strength in compression perpendicular 
to grain, hardness, and shock-resisting ability. 
Sycamore wood is not durable, the average life of the untreated 
lumber hi the United States in exposed situations being placed at 
from three to five years. The life of any individual stick, however, 
