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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 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 Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resin Content Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Pinus serotina Trade Name Pond Pine Family Name Betulaceae Common Names Marsh pine, Pine, Pocosin pine, Pond pine Regions of Distribution North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] 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 Vulnerable Widespread, abundant and globally secure May be rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery Long-term concern about survival Data source is Nature Conservancy The taxonomic status of this species is questionable Distribution Overview Pond pine occurs in the Coastal Plains, with its range extending from south-eastern Virginia, south to central and south-eastern Alabama, and on Cape May, New Jersey. The tree prefers swamps, shallow bays and ponds, and is usually found in nearly pure stands from sea level to elevations of 200 feet (60 m) or less. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Orange Green/grey White Black Red Various shades of yellow and orange to reddish brown or light brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Pink Red Green/Grey Brown Variable width Nearly white to yellowish or orange-white Grain Even Generally straight, but may be somewhat uneven Texture Coarse Even or uniform Medium Luster Medium High Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Resistant to termites Moderately durable Very durable Perishable Non-durable Non-resistant to marine borers Slight resistance to decay Requires proper protection against conditions that promote decay Odor No specific taste Figure occurrence is very fine and distinct Distinctive resinous odor Resin Content Resinous Toxicity Some toxic effects Drying Defects Internal Honeycombing Possible Collapse Distortion Checking Splitting Drying degrades such as water pockets, dark chemical stains and honeycomb Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Fairly Easy Slowly Variable Thick Stock Requires Care Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Tree Size Tree height is 40-50 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Bole length is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Bole length is 20-30 m Bole length is 30-40 m Tree height is 30-40 m Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Bole length is 0-10 m Tree height is 50-60 m Tree height is 60-70 m Bark width is 5-10 mm Sapwood width is 15-20 cm Certified Source Certified Source Comments Abnormal wood tissue in the form of compression wood may be present Blunting Effect Moderate High to severe Moderate blunting effect on cutting edges Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fairly difficult to very difficult Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Resin exudation may gum up sawteeth 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 Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Excellent Stability - Small Movement Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Pre-Boring Recommended Fair to Good Results Very good nail-holding properties Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor to Very Poor Results Fair to Good Results Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Fairly difficult to treat with preservative chemicals Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Responds Readily Responds well to hand tools Moderate blunting effect on cutting edges Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good sanding properties Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Pre-boring recommended Very Good to Excellent Results Good screw holding properties Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Yields clean surfaces Troublesome to work with excessive amounts of resin Responds well to most machining tools Performs well in turning, planing, boring and mortising Moderate blunting effect on cutters Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy Difficult to veneer Suitable for peeling Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Unsuitable for steam bending applications because of high resin content Painting Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Satisfactory painting properties Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly satisfactory finishing treatments Staining Fair to Good Results Responds fairly satisfactoril to most finishing treatments Varnishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Takes stains satisfactorily Strength Properties Medium bending strength in the air-dry condition (about 12% moisture content) Compression strength (parallel to grain) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7252 11368 psi Crushing Strength 431 892 psi Maximum Crushing Strength 3587 7389 psi Shearing Strength 1352 psi Stiffness 1254 1715 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 8 9 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.48 0.52 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 11 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 509 799 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 30 62 kg/cm2 Maximum Crushing Strength 252 519 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 95 kg/cm2 Stiffness 88 120 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.56 0.63 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.48 0.52 Radial Shrinkage 5 % 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.