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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 Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Luster Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing 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 Varnishing Scientific Name Pinus rigida Trade Name Pitch pine Family Name Betulaceae Common Names Pine, Pitch pine Regions of Distribution North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Canada, United States Common Uses Core Stock, Crossties, Decorative veneer, Fiberboard, Figured veneer, Hardboards, Mine timbers, Particleboard, Pile-driver cushions, Piling, Plain veneer, Plywood, Poles, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Railroad ties, Structural plywood, Utility crossarms, Utility plywood, Utility poles, Veneer Environmental Profile Widespread, abundant, and secure in most areas within its range May be rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Data source is Nature Conservancy His species is Vulnerable within its natural habitat in Ontario, and Endangered in Quebec Distribution Overview This North America species is distributed in Ontario, Quebec, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, North Carolina, Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Illinois, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, and West Virginia. It forms pure stands initially which are gradually replaced by hardwoods, and is also found in mixed forests. The tree prefers shallow sands and gravels on steep slopes and ridges, as well as in river valleys and swamps. Pitch pine grow from sea level to an elevation of slightly over 3000 feet (900 m), occasionally higher. Heartwood Color Brown Red Purple Various shades of yellow and orange to reddish brown or light brown Clearly demarcated Sapwood Color White Pink Yellow Variable width Nearly white to yellowish, orange-white, or pale uellow Grain Even Generally straight, but may be somewhat uneven Texture Medium Fine Coarse Medium Luster Medium Natural Durability Durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to insect attack Very little natural resistance to decay in ground contact Should not be used under conditions promoting decay without proper protection Odor Strong resinous odor No specific taste Resin Content Resinous Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Slowly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Comments Abnormal wood tissue in the form of compression wood may be present Blunting Effect Moderate blunting effect on cutting edges Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Moderate to saw Resin exudation may gum up sawteeth Moderate cutting resistance Long pitch saws recommended Gluing Easy to glue Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Pre-Boring Recommended Good nail holding properties Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Responds fairly well to most ordinary machine tools, with moderate blunting effect High resin content may be troublesome since cutters tend to gum up It planes, turns, bores, mortises, and performs fairly well in all other machining operations to produce relatively clean surfaces Resistance to Impregnation Difficult to treat with presevatives Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Fair response to hand tools Sanding Good sanding properties Screwing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Pre-boring recommended Good screw holding properties Steam Bending Unsuitable for steam bending applications because of high resin content Painting Satisfactory painting properties Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Some surface preparation may be required because of high resin content Fairly satisfactory finishing treatments Staining Responds fairly well to most finishing treatmens Varnishing Takes varnishes satisfactorily Strength Properties Compression strength (parallel to grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 6664 10584 psi Crushing Strength 353 804 psi Maximum Crushing Strength 2891 5821 psi Shearing Strength 1333 psi Stiffness 1176 1401 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 9 9 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.44 0.48 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 11 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 468 744 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 24 56 kg/cm2 Maximum Crushing Strength 203 409 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 93 kg/cm2 Stiffness 82 98 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.63 0.63 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.44 0.48 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. 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. 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. USDA. 1988. Dry Kiln Operators Manual, Preliminary Copy. Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.