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 Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects 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 Screwing Silica Content Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Larix occidentalis Trade Name Larch Family Name Pinaceae Common Names Hackmatack, Hackmatack larch, Larch, Montana larch, Mountain larch, Tamarack, Western larch, Western tamarack Regions of Distribution North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Canada, United States Common Uses Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Casing, Casks, Ceiling, Chemical derivatives, Construction, Core Stock, Decks, Decorative veneer, Domestic flooring, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Figured veneer, Flooring, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Fuelwood, Furniture, Glued laminated-beams, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Joists, Light construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Packing cases, Pallets, Paneling , Paneling, Parquet flooring, Piling, Plain veneer, Planks, Plywood, Poles, Porch columns, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Rafters, Railroad cars, Railroad ties, Rough construction, Screens, Stair rails, Structural work, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer Environmental Profile Widespread Rank of relative endangerment based on number of occurences globally. May be rare in some parts of its range Globally secure Data source is Nature Conservancy Abundant Distribution Overview Western larch grows in the Upper Columbia River Basin from southeastern British Columbia to northwestern Montana, northern and west-central Idaho, and northeastern Washington. Its range includes the Blue and Wallowa mountains of southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon and the east slopes of the Cascade Mountains in Washington and northern Oregon. Western larch is widespread in mixed upland stands. It prefers north exposures although it is very shade-intolerant. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Purple Red Orange Reddish brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Red Brown Sapwood Color Brown Yellow White to yellow Well defined Thin sapwood Different than heartwood Whitish to a pale straw-brown. Grain Straight Figure Distinct (figure) Growth rings (figure) Even Very fine Straight Distinct figure Clear growth rings (figure) Figure occurrence is very fine and distinct Texture Medium Fine Coarse Coarse Oily appearance Medium coarse to coarse Greasy feel Fine Luster Low Natural Growth Defects Gum/resin streaks Gum is water soluble Natural Durability Moderately durable Resistant to marine borers Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles 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 Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Moderate surface checking Moderate twist/warp Warping can be expected Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Shakes Ring failure Moderate end spitting Expect resin/gum exudation Checks Ease of Drying Moderate Easy Usually accompanied by moderately high shrinkage. Tree Identification Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Bole length is 10-20 m Bole length is 20-30 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Very large deciduous tree Product Sources Although Western larch is abundant, it bes difficult to isolate commercially, since it is routinely used interchangeably with Douglas-fir under the name Doug fir-larch. Comments The most important Larch timber species, Western larch is regarded as one of the harder, stronger, and heavier softwoods. It is unique among commercial softwoods because of its fine, uniform, and straight grain. The timber is usually marketed and sold as Douglas fir-Larch. Tamarack or eastern larch (L. laricina ) 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 Boring Responds fairly well to boring Gluing Moderate gluing properties Easy to glue Very good properties Mortising Good mortising properties Moulding Good moulding properties Nailing Holds nails well Nailing hold is generally excellent Holds satisfactorily Good resistance to splitting, especially if blunt pointed nails are used Planing Stringy grain may cause some problems Good planing properties Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is resistant Heartwood is highly resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Moderate working qualities Difficult to machine Easy to machine Screwing Good screwing properties Excellent screw-holding qualities Turning Turns well Veneering Qualities No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Moderately easy to veneer Steam Bending Moderate Painting Poor results Holds paint and other finishes rather poorly unless it is well primed before the application of finishes. Staining Poor results Finish is generally satisfactory Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Hardness (side grain) = very soft Bending strength (MOR) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Max. crushing strength = low Max. crushing strength (stiffness) = very low Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Hardness (side grain) = soft Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = very low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7558 12100 psi Crushing Strength 451 956 psi Density 37 lbs/ft3 Hardness 476 lbs Impact Strength 27 32 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3587 6701 psi Shearing Strength 1303 psi Static Bending 4900 8526 psi Stiffness 1467 1756 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 7 10 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.46 0.56 Weight 38 36 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Volumetric Shrinkage 14 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 531 850 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 31 67 kg/cm2 Density 592 kg/m3 Hardness 215 kg Impact Strength 68 81 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 252 471 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 91 kg/cm2 Static Bending 344 599 kg/cm2 Stiffness 103 123 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.49 0.70 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.46 0.56 Weight 608 576 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % References Betts, H.S.,1945,American Woods - Ash,USDA, Forest Service American Woods 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 Flynn Jr., J.H. (undated). In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 205-206. 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 Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12 Kotok, E.S.,1973,American Woods Western Larch,USDA, Forest Service American Woods, FS-243 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 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. Western Wood Products Association. 19__. Softwoods of the Western USA. Published and Distributed by Western Wood Products Association, Yeon Building, 522 SW Fifth Avenue, Portland, Oregon.