I am not a carpenter or framer, but I have experience with sycamore as a whittler. For wood carving, sycamore is God-awful. Stubborn, surly, sullen and uncooperative. It is tough and fibrous and dulls the edge of any edged tool. But it does not make up for this with strength. On the contrary its refusal to bend gives the illusion of strength but then suddenly and without warning it splinters and collapses. It isn’t even good firewood. Looking for sycamores can help a camper find water since they love to grow with wet feet. But the venerable wisdom of 19th Century woodsmen was not to use wood that grows near streams. It won’t light, it won’t give off much heat if it does, it will hiss and spit and start a forest fire if it can, and the embers die quickly so they are no good for cooking (hickory they say is the best firewood). In sum, I respect the stately sycamores and leave them to spread their crooked arms over the waters while I go up the hill to look for better wood.