Apple

Apple (Malus domestica)

Common Name(s): Apple, Crab Apple, Wild Apple

Scientific Name: Malus spp. (Malus domestica, Malus sieversii, Malus sylvestris, etc.)

Distribution: Found throughout most temperate climates

Tree Size: 13-30 ft (4-9 m) tall, 1 ft (.3 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 52 lbs/ft³ (830 kg/m³)

Basic Specific Gravity: .61

Hardness: 1,730 lb_f (7,700 N)

Rupture Strength: 12,800 lb_f/in² (88,280 kPa)

Elastic Strength: 1,270,000 lb_f/in² (8,760 MPa)

Crushing Strength: 6,030 lb_f/in² (41.6 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 5.6%, Tangential: 10.1%, Volumetric: 17.6%, T/R Ratio: 1.8

Color/Appearance: Heartwood can vary from a light reddish or grayish brown to a deeper red/brown. The grain of Apple is sometimes seen with streaks of darker and lighter bands of color, similar to Olive.

Grain/Pore: Has closed pores and a fine, uniform texture, closely resembling Cherry. The grain is typically straight (though on some sections of the tree it can also be wild).

Endgrain: Diffuse-porous; small to very-small pores tending to occur in increased frequency in earlywood zone; exclusively solitary; growth rings distinct; rays usually not visible without lens; parenchyma not typically visible with lens.

Durability: Apple is rated as non-durable for heartwood decay.

Workability: Apple can be somewhat difficult to work due to its high density, and can burn easily when being machined. Apple glues, stains, finishes, and turns well.

Scent: Apple has a faint, sweet scent while being worked.

Safety: There have been no adverse health effects associated with Apple. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Price/Availability: Apple is seldom available in lumber form, and is usually seen only in very small sizes when available. Likely to be rather expensive, and is usually meant for only small projects and specialized applications.

Comments: Apple has a high shrinkage rate, and experiences a large amount of seasonal movement in service. Its appearance and texture closely resemble Cherry, another fruit tree. Yet Apple is significantly heavier and harder than Cherry, and is excellent for turning.

Common uses for Apple include: fine furniture, tool handles, carving, mallet heads, turned items, and other small specialty wood objects.