On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 06:00:48 -0500 (EST) "Scott E. Post"
 writes:
>> Paul Womack wrote:
>>
>> > Scott Post wrote:
>> >
>> > I've found several lumberyards that carry 4/4 beech, but for the
>life of me
>> > I can't find thick stock (for making hand planes).  I've got a guy
>with
>
>wood and is more likely to find it's way to the firewood pile than the
>lumberyard.  I can find 4/4 beech but thicker stock seems
>non-existent.
>

My understanding is that beech doesn't kiln dry very well.  Except
for relatively thin stock It has to be slowly gently dried, e.g. air
drying
is best.  Trying to force it along destroys it--checking, splitting, etc.

So 4/4 is about the thickest that can be successfully kiln
dried a letting 12/4 stock air dry isn't economical for most
purposes.

According to the ECE propaganda, they air dry their beech billets
for their hand planes.