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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 Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Plantation species? Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Pinus caribaea Trade Name Carribean pine Family Name Pinaceae Synonyms Pinus bahamensis Common Names Bastard pine, British Honduras pitch pine, Caribaea-den, Caribbean longleaf pitch pine, Caribbean pine, Caribbean pitch pine, Cuban pine, Fiji pine, Honduras pitch pine, Jersey pine, Meadow pine, Nicaraguan pine, Ocote, Pine, Pinho caribea, Pino, Pino costeno, Pino ocote, Pino veto, Pinus, Pitch pine, Scrub pine, She pine, She pitch pine, Slash pine, Southern pine, Spruce pine, Virginia pine Plantation species? Yes Regions of Distribution Africa, Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Cuba, Fiji [Polynesia], Fiji, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Uganda Common Uses Agricultural implements, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Boat building: masts, Boat building: planking, Boxes and crates, Bridge beams, Bridge construction, Bridge joists, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Construction, Crossties, Decks, Domestic flooring, Drawer sides, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Foundation posts, Furniture , Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Marine construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Office furniture, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Particleboard, Pile-driver cushions, Piling, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Stakes, Sub-flooring, Toys, Vats, Veneer, agricultural implements Environmental Profile Vulnerable Abundant/Secure May be rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center A variety of this species found in Cuba, P. caribaea var. caribaea, is currently classified as Rare. Another variety, P. caribaea var. bahamensis, has also been classified as Rare in the Bahamas Distribution Overview Naturallys occur in the Bahama Islands, western Cuba, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua, but it has been established successfully in Queensland, Western Australia, Fiji, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and elsewhere. In South Africa, the species is confined to the heavy rainfall areas of the Eastern Transvaal, Zululand, and the Cape Midlands. Until recently, Slash pine (P. elliottii) from southeastern United States has been known as Pinus caribaea. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow White Red Orange Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Reddish brown Brown Pale brown White to cream Resin canals are numerous Red Golden brown to red brown Sapwood Color White Yellow White to yellow Well defined Different than heartwood Paler than heartwood Sapwood is lighter than heartwood Easily distinguishable Grain Figure Growth rings (figure) Straight Even Crossed Spiral Distinct (figure) Interlocked Clear growth rings (figure) Straight Generally straight, but not always Spiral Interlocked Distinct figure Distinct and very fine figure Texture Coarse Medium Fine Coarse Medium coarse to coarse Medium Fine Fair to medium coarse Luster Low Medium Slightly lustrous Medium Natural Growth Defects Gum/resin exudation Gum/resin streaks Latex or other ducts Gum and mineral deposits Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Moderately durable Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Susceptible to marine borer attack Perishable Non durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Prone to blue stain Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Moderately resistant Could last from 10 to 15 years in contact with the ground without any chemical protection Performance against attack by decay fungi is determined by the amount of resin in the wood. Odor Has an odor Strong resinous odor Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK=H US=T10D4S/T8D3S Fr=7 UK=F US=T6D4/T3D3 Fr=6 T10-D4S(4/4); T8-D3S(8/4)US Drying Defects Discoloration Resin Exudation Distortion Checking Moderate end spitting Moderate surface checking Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Slight end splitting Moderate twist/warp Expect slight degrade due to knots, splits, and loosening Thicker sizes may end-split Severe twisting/warping No twisting or warping No cupping, generally Low-Density plantation wood may warp slightly during drying Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Reconditioning Treatement Moderate Easy Veneer dries relatively rapidly, with little degrade except slight tendency to split Air dries very slowly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Comments Abnormal wood tissue in the form of compression wood may be present General finishing qualities are rated as good General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fairly easy to very easy Easy Responds well to boring Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Low resistance to sawing Cutting resistance with dry wood is moderate Cutters may be gummed up due to high resin content Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Moderate gluing properties Satisfactory gluing properties Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Responds well to ordinary tools in mortising Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good moulding properties Movement in Service Stable Medium Nailing Fair to Good Results Easy to nail Holds nails well Takes nails well Satisfactory resistance to decay above ground Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Easy to plane Planes well, to a good finish Generally good painting properties Easy to plane Ease of planing is moderate Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Permeable heartwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is moderately resistant Sapwood is permeable Permeable Sapwood is highly permeable Resistant Heartwood has moderate response to preservative penetration Resistance to Splitting Satisfactory Poor Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Easy to Work Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Responds well to hand tools Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Generally good routing qualities Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good sanding properties Screwing Easy to screw Screwing yields satisfactory results Screwing yields good results Good screwing properties Turning Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to turn Turns well Poor results Good results Fairly easy to plane, bore, mould, mortise, and turn but resin may gum cutters and tools Steam Bending Moderate Good Painting Satisfactory painting response, but if contains excessive resin, it may cause problems Poor results Good results Polishing Fair to Good Results Staining Finish is generally good