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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 Carving 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 Light-Induced Color Change Luster 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 Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Picea sitchensis Trade Name Sitka spruce Family Name Pinaceae Common Names Black spruce, Californian coast spruce, Coast spruce, Menzies spruce, Silk spruce, Silver spruce, Sitka spruce, Spruce, Tideland spruce, Western spruce, Yellow spruce Regions of Distribution North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Canada, United States Common Uses Beams, Boat building (general), Boat building: masts, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Casks, Ceiling, Concrete formwork, Construction, Cooperages, Decks, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Factory construction, Food containers, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Furniture, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Joinery, Joists, Ladders, Light construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Musical instruments, Musical instruments: piano, Oars, Packing cases, Pallets, Paneling , Particleboard, Plywood, Poles, Porch columns, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Rough construction, Siding, Utility poles, Vehicle parts, Wainscotting Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Widespread Rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery of its range Globally secure Data source is Nature Conservancy Abundant Distribution Overview Sitka spruce occurs in British Columbia, Yukon Territory, Alaska, California, Oregon, and Washington. It grows in coastal forests in the fog belt, which is a narrow strip containing high rainfall and cool climate, and is usually found in pure stands and in association with Western hemlock at elevations of up to 3000 feet (914 m) in Alaska, and below 1200 feet (366 m) in California. Heartwood Color Red Brown Yellow Orange White Purple Pink Pale red to pink White to cream Pale brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Brown Reddish brown Dark brown The heartwood is pinkish, or light pinkish yellow to pale brown with a purplish cast. The color darkens upon exposure to silvery brown with a faint tinge of red. Sapwood Color White Yellow Color not distinct from heartwood White to yellow Paler than heartwood Well defined Light yellow brown or pale orange brown, eventually aging into deep golden-brown Creamy white Merges gradually into the heartwood Grain Straight Figure Distinct (figure) Growth rings (figure) Spiral Even Crossed Very fine Other (figure) Generally straight, but not always Spiral Clear growth rings (figure) Distinct figure Other figure Figure occurrence is very fine and distinct Even Distinct figure Dimpled on tangential surfaces. Distinct annual rings are important when quartersawing soundboards for musical instruments Texture Medium Coarse Fine Fine Medium Fine to medium Even textured Coarse Luster Low Medium Lustrous Slightly lustrous Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to powder post beetles Moderately durable Durable Perishable Non-resistant to termites Non-resistant to marine borers Non-durable Non durable Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from pinworms (ambrosia beetles) Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Heartwood has very little resistance to decay Sitka spruce should not be used under high decay hazard conitions without chemical protection. Standing trees are vulnerable to blowdowns, as well as attack by insects, disease organisms and animals. Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Dry at a moderate speed UK=J US=T10D5S/T8D4S Fr=4 UK=F US=T6D4/T3D3 Fr=6 UK=J US=T12B5/T11B3 Drying Defects Resin Exudation Slight end splitting Slight twist/warp Expect slight degrade due to knots, splits, and loosening Moderate twist/warp Moderate end spitting Moderate collapse and honeycombing Checks, splits, and raised grain are some of the common drying degrades found in young growth Sitka spruce. The defects are often caused by the presence of juvenile wood Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Gum Exudation Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Moderately Difficult to Difficult Easy Moderate Sitka spruce air-seasons and kiln-dry readily Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries at a moderate speed Naturally dries slowly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is unknown Tree Size Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 30-40 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 Tree height is 10-20 m Sitka spruce is vigorous and fast-growing and is considered to be the world's largest spruce. it is tall and has a straight trunk that is reported to yiels considerable amounts of clear lumber. The diameter of the trunk is usually 36 to 72 inches (90 to 180 cm) above buttresses, but may be as large as 84 inches (213 cm). The largest recorded is 168 inches (416 cm) in the state of Washington. Forest-grown trees are, however, smaller Product Sources Sitka spruce is capable of producing large volumes of clear, straight-grained lumber because of its size. The wood is sometimes sold in a mixture with White spruce, True firs, and other softwoods which makes it rather difficult to isolate commercially. Material for musical instruments has a market of its own, and the selection process is highly specialized. Sitka spruce is the primary source of timber in Alaska. Substitutes Simarouba (Simarouba amara) Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Little Blunting effect on machining is slight Little blunting effect on cutting tools Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Easy Responds very well to boring Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Gum-Up Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Moderate to saw Rather small Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Excellent gluing properties Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Finishes well Easy to mortise Very good mortising characteristics Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good finishing results Easy to mould Very good moulding properties Movement in Service Stable Small Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Holds nails well Easy to nail Holds satisfactorily Excellent resistance to splitting in nailing operations Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Very good planing properties Sitka spruce is rated as one of the easiest woods to cut Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Resistance to impregnation is moderate. Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Difficult to machine Wood from fast-grown trees requires very sharp cutting edges to avoid tearing of earlywood bands. The timber is, however, generally easy to work with hand tools in most operations. Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Routing yields good results Routing is easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding characteristics are rather good Screwing Easy to screw Screwing yields good results Screwing yields satisfactory results Good screw holding properties Excellent screwing properties Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor to Very Poor Results