Search for

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 Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Silica Content Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Larix laricina Trade Name Tamarack Family Name Pinaceae Synonyms Larix americana Common Names Alaska larch, American larch, East canadian larch, Eastern Canadian larch, Eastern larch, Hackmatack, Larch, Tamarack Regions of Distribution North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Canada, United States Common Uses Boat building (general), Boat building: planking, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Casks, Construction, Flooring, Foundation posts, Fuelwood, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Light construction, Mine timbers, Novelties, Packing cases, Pallets, Piling, Poles, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Railroad ties, Rough construction, Stakes, Utility poles, Vats, Wharf construction Environmental Profile Rank of relative endangerment based on number of occurences globally. May be rare in some parts of its range Generally widespread, secure, and abundant within most of its range Data source is Nature Conservancy Distribution Overview Tamarack has one of the widest ranges of all North American conifers. Its main range extends from Newfoundland and Labrador west along the northern limit of trees, and across the Continental Divide in northern Yukon Territory; then south in the Mackenzie River drainage to northeastern British Columbia and central Alberta; and east to southern Manitoba, southern Minnesota, southern Wisconsin, extreme northeastern Illinois, northern Indiana, northern Ohio, northern Pennsylvania, northern New Jersey, northern Connecticut, and Maine. It also grows locally in the mountains of northern West Virginia and adjacent western Maryland. A major disjunct area of tamarack is found in interior Alaska, in the Yukon and Kuskokwim River basins between the Brooks Range on the north and the Alaska Range on the south; three minor areas are near the Alaska-Yukon border. Prefers wet, peaty soils of bogs and swamps, but is also found in drier upland loamy soils. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Black Orange Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Reddish brown Brown Yellowish brown Red Fast grown Tamarack stock may have a reddish brown color. Sapwood Color Green/Grey Brown Yellow White to yellow Well defined White Often less than 1 inch (2.54 cm) wide Grain Figure Growth rings (figure) Spiral Distinct (figure) Straight Crossed Even Interlocked Clear growth rings (figure) Spiral Straight Distinct figure Twisted Growth-Rings are conspicuous and there is an abrupt transition from earlywood to latewood. Texture Fine Stright and closed Medium coarse to coarse Fine to medium Natural Durability Resistant to marine borers Moderately durable Moderately durable Very durable Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Moderately resistant to decay Should be protected with preservatives if it is to be used under high decay hazard conditions. Odor No specific smell or taste Silica Content Siliceous High Kiln Schedules UK=K US=T13C4S/T11D3S - UK=H US=T10D4S/T8D3S Fr=7 Schedule K (4/4); United Kingdom 11 - B3 (4/4); T10 - B3 (8/4) US Drying Defects Distortion Checking Moderate twist/warp Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Moderate surface checking Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Fairly Easy Slowly Moderate Easy Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries at a moderate speed Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Tree height is 40-50 m A deciduous tree reported to have a straight tapering trunk Product Sources Current production of timber from Tamarack is small. Comments Tamarack or Eastern larch is occasionally confused with Western larch but the two can be separated by the color of the heartwood, which is generally yellowish brown in tamarack and russet- or reddish brown in western larch Blunting Effect High to severe Blunting effect on machining is slight Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Planing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is resistant Heartwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is highly resistant The timber is difficult to treat with preservatives. Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Moderate working qualities Requires considerable care in most operations for good results Difficult to machine Turning Difficult to turn Veneering Qualities There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Moderately easy to veneer Steam Bending Moderate Painting Poor results Staining Poor results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Bending strength (MOR) = low Work to Maximum Load = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low Toughness (total work) = very low Toughness (total work) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Max. crushing strength = low Hardness (side grain) = soft Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 15-22 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 6869 10750 psi Crushing Strength 397 867 psi Density 34 lbs/ft3 Hardness 526 lbs Impact Strength 29 22 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3519 6443 psi Shearing Strength 1159 psi Static Bending 2842 6468 psi Stiffness 1191 1404 1000 psi Toughness 130 inch-lbs Work to Maximum Load 7 8 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.45 0.5 Weight 35 33 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Volumetric Shrinkage 11 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 482 755 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 27 60 kg/cm2 Density 544 kg/m3 Hardness 238 kg Impact Strength 73 55 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 247 452 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 81 kg/cm2 Static Bending 199 454 kg/cm2 Stiffness 83 98 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 149 cm-kg Work to Maximum Load 0.49 0.56 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.45 0.5 Weight 560 528 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % 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, H.P. and Panshin, A.J.,1940,Commercial Timbers of the United States Their structure, identification,,properties and uses,McGraw-Hill, London Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World: - No.7 North America,TRADA Canadian Forestry Service. 1981. Canadian Woods - Their Properties and Uses. Third Edition. E.J. Mullins and T.S. McKnight, Editors. Published by University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Canada. 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 Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1945,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research 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 Johnstone, W.F. and Carpenter, E.M.,1985,American Woods - Tamarack,USDA, Forest Service American Woods FS-268 Little, E.L. 1980. The Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Western Region. Published by Arthur 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 Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press Takahashi, A.,1975,Compilation of data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part 2,Central and South America,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No.4 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. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook No. 72. Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. USDA. 1988. Dry Kiln Operators Manual, Preliminary Copy. Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.