• Basswood is widely used for carving.duck decoy image by Julianna Olah from Fotolia.com
  
  American basswood is also known as linden, and as lime or limewood in the U.K. Basswood is a large deciduous tree that produces a soft, straight-grained lumber with very little figure in its grain. Because of its clear grain and long knot-free spans, basswood is highly prized as a carving wood, and is the wood of choice for decorative bird carvings and decoys.
  
  

Carving

• Basswood is often marketed in block shapes measuring approximately eight by 10 by 16 inches. These blocks are kiln-dried and sold as blanks to be used for carving. A sharp carving chisel will leave a very sharp and clear surface in basswood, free of the fuzz that occurs when attempting to carve some species of wood. Many ancient carvings in the cathedrals of Europe were carved from basswood (or lime), and have retained their integrity over centuries.
  
  

Interior Trim

• Basswood is sometimes used for interior trim such as window and door frames, baseboards, crown molding and wainscoting. It takes a stain and a finish well, resulting in an attractive and consistent surface. Due to its softness it is easy to work with, and is not as hard on tools and blades as other interior finish woods such as ash and oak. Interior finish and carving are sometimes combined for ornate interiors that feature carved accents and customized cabinetry.
  
  

Musical Instruments

• Basswood is used in some parts of wooden musical instruments. Because of its light weight and dimensional stability, it is ideal for components such as guitar and violin backs and soundboards. It is not an ideal wood for the necks of stringed instruments, because it doesn't have the structural strength of denser woods such as maple.
  
  

Turning

• For the same reasons that make it a superior carving wood, basswood is favored as a turning wood as well. It can be turned for utilitarian items such as table legs and balusters, as well as for decorative bowls. Basswood is more appropriate for utilitarian uses and painted applications, as its nearly invisible grain doesn't produce the dramatic turning effects that are seen with more strongly grained woods.