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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 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 Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources 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 Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Abies grandis Trade Name White fir Family Name Pinaceae Common Names Epicea, Fir, Giant fir, Grand fir, Larch, Lowland fir, Lowland white fir, Menzies fir, Oregon fir, Sapin, Silver fir, Western balsam fir, Western fir, Western white fir, White fir, Yellow 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, Factory construction, Flooring, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Heavy construction, Joinery, Joists, Light construction, Lumber, Packing cases, Plywood, Porch columns, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Rough boards/dimension stock, Rough construction Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Rare Rare in parts of its natural range (population is at risk) Generally widespread, secure, and abundant within most of its range Data source is Nature Conservancy Rank of relative endangerment based primarily on the number of occurrences of the species globally Distribution Overview In the U.S. and Canada, Grand Fir is native to the Northern Rocky Mountain region from southeast British Columbia south to western Montana and central Idaho, northeast from southwest British Columbia and western Washington to northwest California. It can be generally found in coniferous forests, preferring mountain slopes in cool, humid climates and valleys. This species of fir is also grown in Great Britain. Heartwood Color Brown White Yellow Orange Red Purple Brown Pale brown White to cream Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Whitish Same as sapwood Light buff to yellowish brown Light brown Latewood may have a tinge of roseate, reddish brown, or lavender color Sapwood Color Red Brown Yellow White Color not distinct from heartwood Paler than heartwood Grain Straight Figure Even Growth rings (figure) Stripe (figure) Weak (figure) Generally straight, but not always Clear growth rings (figure) Weak figure Striped figure Even Texture Coarse Medium Medium to coarse Coarse Medium Natural Durability Non-durable Perishable Susceptible to insect attack Non durable Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Very low natural resistance to attack by decay fungi and wood destroying organisms Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste May have a slightly disagreeable smell when green Kiln Schedules UK=L US=T14C6S/T12C5S - T12 - E5 (4/4); T10 - E4 (8/4) Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Uneven Moisture Content Ring Shakes Splitting Checking Wetwood Uneven moisture content Slight surface checking Shakes Expect splits Expect slight degrade due to knots, splits, and loosening Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Moderately Difficult to Difficult Slowly Moderate Easy Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries at a moderate speed Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is unknown Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is greater than 70 m Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 50-60 m Tree height is 60-70 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm One of the tallest trees of the true firs. The tallest is in the Olympic National Park in the state of Washington, with a height of 231 feet (70.4 m) and a girth of 20.6 feet (6.3 m). Blisters on the smooth bark of young trees often burst to produce fragrant, transparent resin or balsam Product Sources Strength properties of White fir are similar to those of Pacific silver fir (A. amabilis), and is also marketed with Western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla). 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 Good results Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to glue Excellent results Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Good mortising properties Finishes well Easy to mortise Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Moulds well Good finishing results Easy to mould Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Small Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor to Very Poor Results Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Holds nails well Easy to nail Nails hold poorly Excellent nailing properties Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to plane Planes well, to a good finish Good planing properties Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is resistant Sapwood is permeable Difficult to treat with preservatives Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Routing yields good results Routing is easy Screwing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very good screw holding qualities Screwing yields good results Excellent screwing properties Easy to screw Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Good results Easy to turn 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 Drying degrade is often moderate to severe, with collapse, buckles, and splilts Painting Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Satisfactory results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Staining Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Finish is generally good Staining (Characteristic) = non-staining Varnishing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Bending strength (MOR) = low Work to Maximum Load = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = medium