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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. Boring Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Distribution Overview Drying Defects Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Mortising Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Abies concolor Trade Name White fir Family Name Pinaceae Common Names Colorado fir, Colorado white fir, Concolor fir, Lows fir, Oyamel, Pacific white fir, Pino real blanco, Rocky mountain white fir, Silver fir, Western fir, White balsam, White fir Regions of Distribution North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] United States Common Uses Beams, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Cabin construction, Casks, Concrete formwork, Construction, Decks, Decorative plywood, Dressed boards, Factory construction, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Heavy construction, Joists, Light construction, Lumber, Packing cases, Plywood, Porch columns, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Rough boards/dimension stock, Rough construction Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Rare Widespread May be rare in some parts of its range Globally secure Data source is Nature Conservancy Abundant Distribution Overview In the U.S., white fir is native to the mountains from central Colorado west to southeast Idaho and southwest Oregon, south to southern California and east to southern Arizona and southern New Mexico. It also grows in northwest Mexico. White fir is a montane species and common in the forest understory between 2,000 and 11,000ft. The maximum growth of white fir occurs in the southern Cascades and western slopes of the Sierra Nevada, where precipitation is generally between 990 mm and 1240 mm. Growth and development are best on moderately deep and well-drained soils. It is often cultivated for ornament, shade and Christmas trees. Heartwood Color Yellow Brown White Purple Tan Yellowish tan Whitish Same as sapwood Light buff to yellowish brown Latewood portion of the growth ring usually has a roseate, reddish brown or lavender tinge Sapwood Color Brown Yellow White Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Even Straight Generally straight, but not always Even Texture Medium Coarse Medium to coarse Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Very little resistance to decay Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste May have a slightly disagreeable smell when green Kiln Schedules 12 - E5 (4/4); T10 - E4 (8/4) U.S Drying Defects Uneven Moisture Content Splitting Discoloration Ring Shakes Uneven moisture content Shakes Expect splits Chemical brown stains Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 40-50 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Boring Fair to good results Good results Gluing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Excellent gluing properties Mortising Fair to Good Results Good mortising properties Moulding Fair to Good Results Moulds well Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Holds nails well Excellent nailing properties Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good planing properties Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is resistant Screwing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very good screw holding qualities Excellent screwing properties Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Good results Strength Properties Surfaces may dent or scratch easily Soft Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Compression strength (parallel to grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 5782 9604 psi Crushing Strength 274 519 psi Hardness 470 lbs Impact Strength 22 20 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 2842 5684 psi Shearing Strength 1078 psi Stiffness 1137 1470 1000 psi Toughness 162 inch-lbs Work to Maximum Load 6 7 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.3 0.27 Weight 45 25 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 11 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 406 675 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 19 36 kg/cm2 Hardness 213 kg Impact Strength 55 50 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 199 399 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 75 kg/cm2 Stiffness 79 103 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 186 cm-kg Work to Maximum Load 0.42 0.49 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.3 0.27 Weight 721 400 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % 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. Little, E.L. 1980. The Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Western Region. Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York. MacDonald, J., R.F. Wood, M.V. Edwards and J.R. Aldhous, Editors. 1957. Exotic Forest Trees in Great Britain. Forestry Commission Bulletin No. 30. Paper Prepared for the Seventh British Commonwealth Forestry Conference, Australia and New Zealand. Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. Panshin, A.J. and C. deZeeuw. Textbook of Wood Technology. McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York. 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.