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 Certified Source 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 Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Plantation species? Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resin Content Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Pinus elliottii Trade Name Slash pine Family Name Pinaceae Common Names American pitch pine, Gulf Coast pitch pine, Pino tea, Slash pine, Swamp pine, Yellow slash pine Plantation species? Yes Regions of Distribution Africa, Latin America, North America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brazil, Canada, Fiji [Polynesia], New Zealand, South Africa, United States Common Uses Beams, Boat building, Boxes and crates, Bridge beams, Bridge construction, Bridge joists, Construction, Excelsior, Furniture, Hardboards, Heavy construction, Joinery, Joists, Millwork, Mine timbers, Novelties, Pallets, Paneling, Particleboard, Piling, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Rafters, Railroad cars, Railroad ties, Rough construction, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Silos, Stringers, Structural plywood, Structural work, Veneer, Warehouse construction, Woodenware Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Questionable Environmental status not officially assessed Distribution Overview Although it was originally named Pinus elliottii , Slash pine has been called Pinus caribaea at one time and P. heterophylla at another. The species occurs in the Coastal Plains, from the southern part of South Carolina to southern Florida, and west to southeastern Louisiana. The tree usually grows in lowland areas such as swamps or slashes, including poorly drained sandy soils, and is also found on uplands and old fields. It often grows in pure stands as a subclimax species after fires, as well as in mixed forests. Slash pine prefers to grow mostly near sea level, but is also be found in localized areas at elevations of up to 500 feet (152 m). Heartwood Color Brown Red Yellow Orange White Pink Purple Light yellow, orange, and red Southern yellow pines are reported to have many characteristics that are similar to Douglas fir Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Orange Whitish to yellowish, orange-white, or pale yellow White to yellow Variable width Grain Even Closed Highly figured, with patterns ranging from clear to knotty Generally straight, but may be somewhat uneven Closed Texture Medium Fine Coarse Medium Natural Durability Moderately durable Very durable Durable Susceptible to insect attack Perishable Resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to termites Non-durable Resistant to powder post beetles Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Moderate resistance Easily treated with chemical preservatives allowing it to be used in exterior applications Odor Has an odor Has a taste Very fine Distinct (figure) Non-Descriptive resinous odor No specific taste Figure occurrence is very fine and distinct Resin Content Resinous Kiln Schedules Regular T13-C6(4/4); T12-C5 (8/4) Schedule L (4/4) United Kingdom Different kiln schedules recommended for highest quality stock Drying Defects Checking Splitting Discoloration Excessive drying temperatures may cause checks, splits and brown sapwood stains Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Slowly Moderately Difficult to Difficult Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries at a moderate speed Naturally dries slowly Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 20-30 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Bark width is 5-10 mm Bark width is 15-20 mm Bark width is 10-15 mm Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Product Sources Slash pine is widely cultivated in forest plantations, both inside and outside its natural range. Slash pine is considered an important species for timber production, and is a primary source of lumber for naval stores, as well as a variety of other uses. Southern yellow pines which include Slash pine (P. elliottii), Longleaf pine (P. palustris), Loblolly pine (P. taeda), and Shortleaf pine (P. echinata) are very difficult to separate and are usually mixed together and marketed on the basis of density. Certified Source Certified Source Blunting Effect Moderate blunting effect on cutting edges Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Moderate cutting resistance Long pitch saws recommended Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to glue Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Excellent Stability - Small Movement Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Very good nail-holding properties Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy It planes, turns, moulds, bores, and mortises fairly well to yield generally clean finishes High resin content may be troublesome since cutters tend to gum up Fairly good response to ordinary machine tools, with moderate cutting resistance Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Permeable heartwood Incising before treatment is unnecessary Heartwood is permeable Cellular structure allwos deep, uniform penetration Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Responds fairly wel to hand tools, with moderate cutting resistance Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good sanding properties Frequent sandpaper changes is usually necessary because of clogging by resin Screwing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very good screw holding qualities Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Veneering Qualities Veneers moderately easy Difficult to veneer Veneers easily Suitable for peeling Steam Bending Unsuitable Exudation Unsuitable for steam bending applications because of high resin content Painting Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory painting properties Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly satisfactory finishing treatments Durable finish recommended to help minimize wear in material used for flooring Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Responds fairly satisfactoril to most finishing treatments Varnishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Takes varnishes satisfactorily Strength Properties Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Max. crushing strength = low Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Hardness (side grain) = very soft Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium High weight High in density Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7934 13768 psi Crushing Strength 519 1000 psi Density 39 lbs/ft3 Hardness 319 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 3519 6791 psi Shearing Strength 1463 psi Stiffness 1331 1654 1000 psi Toughness 260 inch-lbs Work to Maximum Load 10 13 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.51 0.55 Weight 38 29 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 12 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 557 968 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 36 70 kg/cm2 Density 624 kg/m3 Hardness 144 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 247 477 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 102 kg/cm2 Stiffness 93 116 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 299 cm-kg Work to Maximum Load 0.70 0.91 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.51 0.55 Weight 608 464 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % 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. Kaiser, Jo-Ann. Wood of the Month: Southern Pine - The Commercial Name for 10 Species. Wood & Wood Products, June, 1991. Little, E.L. 1980. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Eastern Region. Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York. Mirov, N.T. 1967. The Genus PINUS. The Ronald Press Company, New York. LCC Card No. 67-14783. NWFA. 1994. Wood Species Used in Wood Flooring. Technical Publication No. A200. National Wood Flooring Association, Manchester, MO. 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. USDA. 1987. Wood Handbook - Wood as an Engineering Material, Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook No. 72, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. 307,1207,97,810,535,859,515 USDA. 1988. Dry Kiln Operators Manual, Preliminary Copy. Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.