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 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 Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Pinus lambertiana Trade Name Sugar pine Family Name Pinaceae Common Names Big pine, Californian sugar pine, Californina soft pine, Gigantic pine, Great sugar pine, Pine, Shade pine, Sugar pine Regions of Distribution North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] United States Common Uses Beams, Bent Parts, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Casks, Concrete formwork, Construction, Domestic flooring, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Flooring, Food containers, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Furniture, Garage doors/Overhead garage doors, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Joists, Light construction, Matches, Mathematical instruments, Millwork, Moldings, Musical instruments, Musical instruments: piano, Packing cases, Paneling , Paneling, Porch columns, Rafters, Roofing, Rough construction, Shakes, Sheathing, Shingles, Siding, Structural work, Studs, Sub-flooring, Trimming, Wainscotting Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Widespread, abundant and globally secure May be rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery Data source is Nature Conservancy Distribution Overview The most majestic of all the pines, Sugar pine occurs from western Oregon south through the Sierra Nevada, to western Nevada and southern California. It is also found in northern Baja, California. It is often found in mixed coniferous forests and is adapted to various types of mountain soils. Sugar pine grows at elevations that are commonly 6000 to 9000 feet (1829 to 2745 m). It is also found, but less frequently, down to an elevation of about 3500 feet (1067 m) and up to an altitude of about 10000 feet (3048 m). The best stands of Sugar pine trees are reported to occur at elevations between 4500 and 6000 feet (1372 and 1829 m) in the central Sierra, fromSan Joaquin River to the American River. Heartwood Color Brown Red Yellow Orange White Purple Pale brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange White to cream Reddish brown Red Pale red to pink Pale brown to light reddish brown The reddish brown color is significantly lighter than it is in the eastern and western white pines. Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red White to yellow Somewhat white to pale yellowish white Grain Straight Figure Growth rings (figure) Even Distinct (figure) Straight Clear growth rings (figure) Straight and even Distinct figure Tangential surfaces often exhibit a faint, but very attractive figure with numerous flecks of large, dark brown resin canals. Texture Medium Fine Coarse Even or uniform Coarse Uniform Medium Medium coarse to coarse Fair to medium coarse Luster Slightly lustrous Natural Growth Defects Latex or other ducts Natural Durability Non-durable Moderately durable Susceptible to insect attack Perishable Non-resistant to termites Resistant to powder post beetles Non durable Very little natural resistance to decay in ground contact Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Durable Should not be used under conditions that promote decay without appropriate chemical protection. Odor Has an odor Non-Descriptive odor No specific taste Faint distinct odor in freshly milled wood, especially when wet Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Light T5-E5(4/4); T5-E5(8/4) US Schedule L(4/4) United Kingdom Heavy T5-F6(4/4);T5-F5(8/4)US Drying Defects Resin Exudation Discoloration Distortion No twisting or warping No surface checking No end splitting Minimal checking and warping Drying defects include brwon stains, which may be caused by wetwood Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Gum Exudation Thick Stock Requires Care Moderately Difficult to Difficult Easy Moderate Dries easily and without difficulty Air dries slowly with low shrinkage Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 60-70 m Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Tree height is 50-60 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is greater than 70 m Trunk diameters of more than 10 feet (3 m) are reported to have been recorded. Product Sources Supplies of Sugar pine are adequate, thanks to modern logging techniques which allow less accessible stands of the species to be harvested. Sugar pine, especially wide clear, stock, sells at a slight premium over other White pines. Certified Source Certified Source Comments Name is derivative of name of sugary exudate known as monmethyl ehter of d -inositol Blunting Effect Little Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fairly easy to very easy Very good to excellent results Responds very well to boring Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Gum-Up Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Works well Requires very sharp cutting edges Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Excellent gluing properties Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Excellent mortising characteristics Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good moulding properties Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Stable Nailing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Holds nails well Easy to nail Satisfactory resistance to decay above ground Good nail holding properties Excellent resistance to splitting in nailing operations Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Readily and predictably cuts and shapes Fabulous working quality due to its uniform texture and low density Excellent planning properties Workshops are usually filled with the sweet scented aroma given off by the resin in the wood. Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Permeable heartwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Fairly resistant to impregnation Resistance to Splitting Satisfactory Excellent Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Responds well to hand tools Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Sanding Good sanding properties Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Screwing yields good results Good screw holding properties Excellent screwing properties Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Turns well Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy No drying degrade There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Moderately easy to veneer Painting Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Surface Preparation Good results Takes paint satisfactorily Satisfactory results Polishing Satisfactory results Satisfactory polishing characteristics