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Blunting Effect Boring Carving Certified Source Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Mortising Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Abies amabilis Trade Name Pacific silver fir Family Name Pinaceae Common Names Alpine fir, Amabilis fir, Balsam, Balsam fir, Cascade fir, Fir, Great silver fir, Larch, Lovely fir, Pacific silver fir, Red fir, Silver fir, Western fir, White fir Regions of Distribution North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Canada, United States Common Uses Beams, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Cabin construction, Casks, Concrete formwork, Construction, Cooperages, Decks, Decorative plywood, Dressed boards, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Factory construction, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Heavy construction, Joinery, Joists, Light construction, Lumber, Millwork, Moldings, Packing cases, Plywood, Porch columns, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Rough boards/dimension stock, Rough construction, Shakes, Sheathing, Shingles, Siding Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Rare Questionable Widespread Some long-term concern for the species May be rare in some parts of its range Globally secure Data source is Nature Conservancy Abundant Distribution Overview Pacific Silver Fir is native to the Pacific Coast region from Alaska south to western British Columbia, to western Oregon and locally in northwestern California (Siskiyou County). It grows from about sea level in the western limits of its range, to 6,000 feet in the Cascades. This tree prefers cool, wet regions. It is often found in the coastal fog belt and interior mountain valleys in coniferous forests, and is the dominant fir in the Olympic Mountains of Washington. Heartwood Color Brown White Yellow Purple Red Pale brown White to cream Whitish Light buff to yellowish brown Light brown There is usually a reddish brown, roseate, or lavender tinge at the latewood portion of the growth rings. Sapwood Color Red Brown Yellow White Paler than heartwood Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Even Figure Straight Growth rings (figure) Stripe (figure) Generally straight, but not always Clear growth rings (figure) Striped figure Even Texture Fine Medium Medium Fine Natural Durability Non-durable Perishable Non durable Very little natural resistance Resistant to attack from pinworms (ambrosia beetles) Perishable No natural resistance Odor Has an odor No odor, generally. May have a slightly disagreeable smell when green Kiln Schedules UK=L US=T14C6S/T12C5S - T12 - B5 (4/4), T10 - B3 (8/4) Drying Defects Uneven Moisture Content Splitting Discoloration Ring Shakes Uneven moisture content Shakes Expect splits Expect slight degrade due to knots, splits, and loosening Chemical brown stains Defects are commonly associated with the presence of wetwood Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Moderately Difficult to Difficult Moderate Easy Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 40-50 m Bole length is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 50-60 m Tree height is greater than 70 m Tree height is 20-30 m Certified Source Certified Source Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Little Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Gluing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Excellent results Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Nailing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Holds nails well Easy to nail Good resistance to splitting while nailing Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Straight grained and easy to work in most machining operations Good planing properties Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Permeable heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is resistant Heartwood is permeable Heartwood is moderately resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very good screw holding qualities Excellent screwing properties Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Veneering Qualities Veneers moderately easy Difficult to veneer Veneers easily Suitable for peeling There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Moderately easy to veneer Painting Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good results Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good results Staining Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Finish is generally good Varnishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Work to Maximum Load = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Bending strength (MOR) = low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Max. crushing strength = low Surfaces may dent easily Soft Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 5633 9381 psi Crushing Strength 221 475 psi Density 25 lbs/ft3 Hardness 377 lbs Impact Strength 21 24 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3022 5716 psi Shearing Strength 1052 psi Stiffness 1342 1602 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 5 8 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.31 0.31 Weight 25 21 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Volumetric Shrinkage 13 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 396 659 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 15 33 kg/cm2 Density 400 kg/m3 Hardness 171 kg Impact Strength 53 60 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 212 401 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 73 kg/cm2 Stiffness 94 112 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.35 0.56 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.31 0.31 Weight 400 336 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % References Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Hardwoods - Temperate and Tropical. USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World: - No.7 North America,TRADA 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 Forest Products Research Laboratory U.K.,1957,A Handbook of Softwoods,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research,HMSO Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting Little, E.L. 1980. The Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Western Region. Published by Alfred A. Knopf, New York. Markwardt, L.J., Wilson, T.R.C.,1935,Strength and related properties of woods grown in the United States,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture Technical Bulletin,No.479 Mullins, E.J. and McKnight, T.S.,1981,Canadian Woods Their Properties and Uses,University of Toronto Press 3rd Edition Panshin, A.J. and C. deZeeuw. Textbook of Wood Technology. McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York. Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press Stone, H.,1924,The Timbers of Commerce and their Identification,William Rider & Sons Ltd. London Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition U.S.D.A. Forest Service,1974,Wood Handbook,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Handbook,72 USDA. 1987. Wood Handbook:Wood as an Engineering Material. Agriculture Handbook No. 72. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Madison, Wisconsin. USDA. 1988. Dry Kiln Operators Manual, Preliminary Copy. Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. Western Wood Products Association. 19__. Softwoods of the Western USA. Published and Distributed by the Western Wood Products Association, Yeon Building, 522 S.W. Fifth Avenue, Portland, Oregon. Wood, A.D.,1963,Plywoods of the World: Their Development, Manufacture and,Application,Johnston & Bacon Ltd. Edinburgh & London