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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 Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Distribution Overview Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Picea rubens Trade Name Red spruce Family Name Pinaceae Common Names Balsam spruce, Canadian red spruce, Eastern spruce, He balsam, Red spruce, Spruce, West virginia spruce, Yellow spruce Regions of Distribution North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Canada, United States Common Uses Boat building (general), Boat building, Boxes and crates, Canoes, Casks, Cooperages, Drum sticks, Fiber moulded products, Food containers, Hardboards, Insulating boards, Lifeboats, Light construction, Millwork, Musical instruments , Musical instruments: piano, Organ pipes, Packing cases, Pallets, Particleboard, Piano keys, Pianos , Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Round timbers, Shipbuilding, Sounding boards, Violin bows, Violin, Xylophones Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Rare Questionable Widespread Rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery of its range Globally secure Abundant Distribution Overview Red spruce occurs from Ontario, east to Nova Scotia in Canada, and from New England southwards in the mountains of North Carolina and eastern Tennessee . It is often found in pure stands and prefers to grow in the Rocky mountain soils at elevations of 4500 to 6500 feet (1372 to 1981 m) in the southern regions of its range. Heartwood Color Brown Red White to cream Pale red to pink Both heartwood and sapwood are nearly white to pale yellowish brown in color Sapwood Color White Color not distinct from heartwood Paler than heartwood Grain Even Figure Straight Distinct (figure) Growth rings (figure) Straight Distinct figure Even Clear growth rings (figure) Texture Fine Fine to medium Medium Luster Lustrous Natural Durability Durable Should not be used under high decay hazard conditions without proper protection Non durable Heartwood has very little resistance to decay Prolonged exposure to the weather is reported to turn the wood light gray, with a silvery sheen. Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules UK=K US=T13C4S/T11D3S UK=K US=T11B4/T10B3 Ease of Drying Easy Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m The tree is described as a handsome ornamental, attaining a height of 50 to 80 feet (15 to 24 m) at maturity Product Sources Wood produced by Red spruce, White spruce (P. glauca), and Black spruce (P. mariana) are very similar in characteristics and are often mixed and marketed without distinction as Eastern spruce. Wood from Red spruce is generally stronger than that from White spruce. Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Good (75+ pieces out of 100 will yield good to excellent results) Gluing Easy to glue Very good properties Mortising Good mortising properties Moulding Moulds well (70+ % of pieces will yield good to excellent results) Movement in Service Stable Nailing Holds nails well Nails hold poorly Excellent resistance to splitting in nailing operations Planing Responds fairly well to planing. Resistance to Impregnation Poor response to preservative treatment Heartwood is resistant Heartwood is extremely resistant Response to Hand Tools Difficult to machine Screwing Very good screw holding qualities Excellent screwing properties Turning Good results Veneering Qualities There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Moderately easy to veneer Painting Satisfactory results The timber takes paint satisfactorily Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Work to Maximum Load = very low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Mor/Bending strength = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength = very low Low Low Low Low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Trength properties are moderate, but stiffness is rated as above average. Bending strength is similar to that of Teak, which is considered to be strong. Compression strength parallel to grain, or maximum crushing strength, is medium. It is lower in this property than Teak. The wood is soft, and surfaces may dent easily. It also does not wear well, and mars easily. Weight is medium. Resin from both Red and Black spruce is the source of spruce gum, predecessor of modern chewing gum. The young leafy twigs of the tree were a source of spruce beer after boiling and adding flavoring and sugar. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 5199 8353 psi Crushing Strength 255 539 psi Density 25 lbs/ft3 Hardness 407 lbs Impact Strength 18 23 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 2078 4200 psi Shearing Strength 1095 psi Static Bending 2940 5390 psi Stiffness 1271 1510 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 5 7 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.34 0.37 Weight 26 26 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Volumetric Shrinkage 12 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 365 587 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 17 37 kg/cm2 Density 400 kg/m3 Hardness 184 kg Impact Strength 45 58 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 146 295 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 76 kg/cm2 Static Bending 206 378 kg/cm2 Stiffness 89 106 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.35 0.49 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.34 0.37 Weight 416 416 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % References Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois and E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods: Temperate and Tropical. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Madison, Wisconsin. 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. 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 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 Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Eastern Region. Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York. Mullins, E.J. and McKnight, T.S.,1981,Canadian Woods Their Properties and Uses,University of Toronto Press 3rd Edition Ostrander, M.D.,1974,American Woods Eastern Spruce,USDA, Forest Service American Woods FS-263 Panshin, A.J. and C. deZeeuw. 1980. Textbook of Wood Technology, 4th Edition. McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York. Sarawak Forestry Department,1953,Trees and Timbers of Sarawak and Brunei - Leaflet No. 9 Family,Dipterocarpaceae,Forest Department of Sarawak 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, 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.