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Comments
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
Family Name
Gluing
Grain
Heartwood Color
Kiln Drying Rate
Kiln Schedules
Luster
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Painting
Planing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Strength Properties
Synonyms
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Varnishing
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Synonyms
Abies pectinata
Common Names
Common European silver fir, Common fir, Common silver fir, European silver fir, European silver pine, Silver fir, Silvergrain, Swiss pine, White deal, Whitewood, Whitewood fir
Regions of Distribution
Western Europe
Countries of Distribution
[VIEW MAP]
Estonia, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Common Uses
Boat building: masts, Boxes and crates, Carvings, Chemical derivatives, Flooring, Food containers, Fuelwood, Joinery, Ladders, Light construction, Mine timbers, Musical instruments, Musical instruments: piano, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Pulp/Paper products
Heartwood Color
| White |
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| Yellow |
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| Red |
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| Orange |
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| Pink |
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| Green/grey |
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| Brown |
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| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange |
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| White to cream |
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| Pale red to pink |
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| Pale brown |
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| Greenish to greyish |
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Sapwood Color
| White |
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| Yellow |
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| Red |
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| White to yellow |
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| Color not distinct from heartwood |
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Grain
| Straight |
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| Figure |
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| Growth rings (figure) |
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| Even |
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| Straight |
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| Clear growth rings (figure) |
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Texture
| Fine |
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| Medium |
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| Fine |
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| Fine to medium |
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Luster
Natural Durability
| Non-durable |
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| Perishable |
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| Non durable |
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| Resistant to attack from pinworms (ambrosia beetles) |
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Kiln Schedules
| UK=K US=T13C4S/T11D3S - |
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| UK=H US=T10D4S/T8D3S Fr=7 |
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| Drying (speed) is fast |
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Drying Defects
| Distortion |
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| Loose Knots |
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| Splitting |
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| Checking |
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| Slight twist/warp |
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| Slight surface checking |
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| Slight end splitting |
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| No twisting or warping |
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| No surface checking |
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| Moderate twist/warp |
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| Expect slight degrade due to knots, splits, and loosening |
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| Expect moderate degrade due to knots, splits, and loosening |
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Ease of Drying
Kiln Drying Rate
Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is straight |
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Tree Size
| Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm |
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| Tree height is 30-40 m |
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| Tree height is 40-50 m |
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| Bole length is 20-30 m |
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| Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm |
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| Tree height is 60-70 m |
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| Tree height is 50-60 m |
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| Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm |
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Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Gluing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Easy to glue |
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Movement in Service
| Excellent Stability - Small Movement |
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| Small |
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Nailing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Pre-Boring Recommended |
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| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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| Holds nails well |
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| Easy to nail |
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| Possible if prebored |
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Planing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Easy to plane |
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Resistance to Impregnation
| Permeable sapwood |
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| Resistant heartwood |
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| Permeable heartwood |
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| Resistant sapwood |
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| Sapwood is permeable |
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| Heartwood is moderately resistant |
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| Heartwood is permeable |
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Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to Work |
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| Easy to machine |
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Screwing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Easy to screw |
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Painting
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Good results |
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Staining
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Finish is generally good |
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Varnishing
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Good results |
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Strength Properties
| Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. |
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| Shrinkage, Radial = very small |
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| Work to Maximum Load = very low |
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| Shrinkage, Tangential = small |
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| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low |
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| Max. crushing strength = medium |
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| Hardness (side grain) = very soft |
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| Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. |
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| Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. |
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| Bending strength (MOR) = low |
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| Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low |
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| Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low |
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| Toughness (total work) = low |
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| Shrinkage, Tangential = very small |
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| Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate |
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| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low |
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| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low |
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| Density (dry weight) = 15-22 lbs/cu. ft. |
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Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
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| Bending Strength | 6111 | 9589 | psi |
| Density | | 33 | lbs/ft3 |
| Hardness | | 319 | lbs |
| Impact Strength | | 22 | inches |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 3916 | 6397 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | | 1221 | psi |
| Stiffness | 1017 | 1199 | 1000 psi |
| Toughness | | 167 | inch-lbs |
| Work to Maximum Load | 5 | 7 | inch-lbs/in3 |
| Weight | 32 | 26 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 2 | | % |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 6 | | % |
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| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
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| Bending Strength | 429 | 674 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | | 528 | kg/m3 |
| Hardness | | 144 | kg |
| Impact Strength | | 55 | cm |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 275 | 449 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | | 85 | kg/cm2 |
| Stiffness | 71 | 84 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Toughness | | 192 | cm-kg |
| Work to Maximum Load | 0.35 | 0.49 | cm-kg/cm3 |
| Weight | 512 | 416 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 2 | | % |
References
Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 6 Europe,TRADA, Red Booklet Series
Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London
Dallimore, W. and Jackson, A. Bruce,1966,A Handbook of Coniferae and Ginkgoaceae Fourth Ed. Revised by S.G.,Harrison,Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd. London
Findlay, W.P.K.,1975,Timber: Properties and Uses,Crosby Lockwood Staples London,224PP
Forest Products Research Laboratory U.K.,1957,A Handbook of Softwoods,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research,HMSO
Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1937,A Handbook of Home-Grown Timbers,HMSO
Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed.
Lavers, G.M.,1983,The Strength Properties of Timber (3rd ed. revised Moore G.L.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Report (formerly Bulletin No.50)
Rijsdijk, L.F. and Laming, P.B.,1994,Physical and Related Properties of 145 Timbers, Information for,Practice,TNO Building and Construction Research Centre for Timber Research Kluwer,Academic Publishers
T.D.A.,1942,Timber Leaflet No.71 Silver Fir,TRADA Timber Leaflet
T.R.A.D.A.,1942,Home-grown timber trees - their characteristics, cultivation and Uses,TRADA
Timber Development Association Ltd.,1955,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Timber Development Association Ltd.
Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition
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