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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Sequoia sempervirens Trade Name Redwood Family Name Taxodiaceae Common Names California redwood, Californian redwood, Coast redwood, Redwood, Sequoia, Sequoia pine, Vervona Regions of Distribution North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] United States Common Uses Agricultural implements, Beams, Bedroom suites, Beehives, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boxes and crates, Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Chairs, Chemical containers, Chests, Cigar boxes, Coffins, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Construction, Decks, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Factory construction, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Food containers, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Moldings, Musical instruments: piano, Paneling, Pencil, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Shingles, Signs, Stairworks, Tobacco boxes, Vats, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Endangered Rare and local throughout is range (21 to 100 occurrences) Found locally, even abundantly, at some of its locations, but in a restricted range Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare within parts of its range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Data source is Nature Conservancy The current environmental status of this species within its natural growth range in the states of California and Oregon is officially classified as Rare Distribution Overview The growth range of the species extends from extreme southwestern Oregon south to central California in the fog belt, a coastal strip of land which is about 5 to 25 (8 to 56 k) miles wide. Redwood forms pure stands in lush dense forests, and may be found in association with Douglas-fir, Port-Orford cedar, and mixed conifers. It prefers mostly alluvial soils on flats and benches or terraces. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Green Reddish brown Red Pale red to pink Purple Light cherry red to dark reddish-brown or mahogany Dark brown Sapwood Color Grey White to yellow Well defined Paler than heartwood Almost white, or pale yellow Grain Straight Figure Growth rings (figure) Even Variable (figure) Closed Distinct (figure) Crossed Wavy Other (figure) Spiral Straight Clear growth rings (figure) Variable figure Burrs Distinct and very fine figure Wide variety of grain patterns Wavy Spiral Redwood burls are common Rarely wavy-grained Other figure Generally straight, but may be somewhat uneven Even Redwood burls rae sometimes 6 feet (1.8 m) in diameter Texture Coarse Medium Fine Medium Medium to coarse Fine to medium Coarse Even with narrow growth rings to coarse with wide growth rings Luster Low Natural Growth Defects Latex or other ducts Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Non-resistant to termites Durable Very durable Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Very resistant to attack by decay-causing fungi and other wood destroying insects Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Moderately durable Odor Has an odor No distinct odor or taste Light-Induced Color Change Lighter Toxicity Respiratory effects Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast T5-D4(8/4)Us Schedule K (4/4) United Kingdom Heavy T4-F5(4/4) T3-F4 (8/4)US Light T5-D6(4/4) Drying Defects Internal Honeycombing Possible Distortion Moderate collapse and honeycombing Minimal shrinkage and checking may occur Defects include:uneven moisture, chemical stains, iron stains, and are attributable to wetwood (usually in old growth) Ease of Drying Slowly Easy Very high in moisture content Moderate Dries easily with a mininum of drying defects Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 60-70 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm The world's tallest tree is a Redwood, measuring about 368 feet (112 m) in height. Product Sources Redwood is readily available in the lumber form, and is typically priced competitively with other construction timbers. Redwood burls are available in limited quantities on the west coast of the United States, and are usually priced in the expensive range. Substitutes Alerce (Fitzroya cupressoides) is a possible substitute Comments Abnormal Growth Features Although virgin forests of Redwood still exist in several state parks, as well as in the Redwoods National Parks and along the Redwoods Highway, there are still some concerns about the status of the species outside these areas. While some people advocate that the future of Redwood can be assured through planting in tree farms and regeneration of seed trees after selective logging, others feel that the species should be conserved and maintained at its present levels. General finishing qualities are rated as good Some stock may have alternating even-width zones of compression and normal wood Blunting Effect Blunting effect on sawing green wood is mild Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild Blunting effect on machining is slight Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe Boring Fairly easy to very easy Easy Bores well with ordinary machine tools Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Moderate gluing properties Excellent gluing properties Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Interlocked slightly to moderately Easy to mortise Good mortising properties Finishes well Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Interlocked slightly to moderately Easy to mould Material responds well to moulding operations Good finishing results Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Excellent Stability - Small Movement Stable Small Retains its shape very well after manufacture High dimensional stability after seasoning Nailing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Possible if prebored Nails hold poorly Holds satisfactorily Holds nails well Excellent resistance to splitting in nailing operations Easy to nail Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to plane Ease of planing is moderate Planes well, to a good finish Good planing properties Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Heartwood is moderately resistant Sapwood is permeable Sapwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is extremely resistant Fairly treatable with preservatives Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Easy to Work Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Routing is easy Routing yields good results Moderately easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Possible if prebored Poorly holds screws Excellent screwing properties Turning Easy to turn Good turning qualities Good results Veneering Qualities There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Diifficult to veneer Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Moderate Painting Good results Accept and hold paints exceptionally well Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Staining (Characteristic) = non-staining Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft.