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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 Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing 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 Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Pinus strobus Trade Name Eastern white pine Family Name Pinaceae Common Names American yellow pine, Austrian white pine, Canadain white pine, Canadian yellow pine, Cork pine, Eastern white pine, Northern white pine, Ottawa pine, Ottawa white pine, Pattern pine, Pumpkin pine, Quebec pine, Quebec yellow pine, Sapling pine, Soft pine, Weymouth pine, Yellow pine Regions of Distribution Central America, North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Canada, Mexico, United States Common Uses Agricultural implements, Balusters, Beams, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: masts, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Caskets, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Coffins, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Construction, Decks, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Drawing boards, Drum sticks, Excelsior, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Flooring, Food containers, Furniture , Furniture, General carpentry, Interior trim, Joinery, Ladders, Light construction, Matches, Millwork, Moldings, Musical instruments , Musical instruments, Musical instruments: piano, Novelties, Paneling , Paneling, Sculpture, Shade rollers, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Toys, Woodenware Environmental Profile Widespread, abundant and globally secure May be rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery Data source is Nature Conservancy Distribution Overview Eastern white pine (also called Weymouth pine in England where it is widely planted) occurs extensively in North America. Its growth range extends from Newfoundland and Quebec west to central Ontario and southeastern Manitoba, south to Minnesota, northeasrn Iowa, northern Illinois, northwestern Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, and south in the mountains to western North Carolina, northern Georgia, and Tennessee. It is also reported to occur locally in western Kentuck and western Tennessee. The tree prefers well-drained sandy soils, and is sometimes found in pure stands from near sea level to an altitude of about 2000 feet (615 m), and up to 5000 feet (1525 m) in the southern Appalachians. Heartwood Color Brown Red Black Purple Reddish brown Pale brown White to cream Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale red to pink Red Resin ducts at times appear as thin brown lines Darkens upon exposure Cream colored to light brown or reddish brown, or pale yellow to pale brown Brown Differences between Eastern white and Western white pine are so slight that the two species cannot be distinguished without laboratory tests Sapwood Color White Yellow White to yellow Paler than heartwood Same as heartwood Nearly white to pale yelllowish white Narrow to medium in width Grain Straight Figure Growth rings (figure) Even Mottled (figure) Weak (figure) Straight Clear growth rings (figure) Weak figure Straight and even Mottled figure Texture Fine Fine Medium Medium coarse to coarse Fine to medium Even textured Luster Medium High Natural Growth Defects Latex or other ducts Natural Durability Resistant to termites Durable Very durable Resistant to marine borers Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to powder post beetles Non durable Resistant to attack from pinworms (ambrosia beetles) Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Should be chemically treated before using in high decay hazard conditions Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately resistant Moderately durable Moderate resistance to attack by decay organisms Prolonged exposure to exterior atmospheric conditions is reported to weather the wood to a light gray color, with a moderate sheen. Odor Non-Descriptive resinous odor No specific taste Figure occurrence is very fine and distinct Scent and resin canals are two features that can be used, with a reasonable degree of certainty, to differentiate between Eastern white pine and Sugar pine: the latter pine is reported to often have a sweeter scent and much larger resin canals Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Dry at a moderate speed UK=L US=T146C6S/T12C5S Standard T11-C5(4/4);T10-C4(8/4) Schedule L (4/4) United Kingdom Different drying schedule recommended to prevent brown stains Drying Defects Internal Honeycombing Possible Collapse Slight twist/warp Sap stain is common Prpoer stacking to allow adequate air-flow thru pile is essential during air-seasoning No twisting or warping Expect resin/gum exudation Brown stains and ring failure during drying Ease of Drying Variable Easy Air dries slowly with low shrinkage Air dries easily and uniformly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is unknown Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 30-40 m Comments Abnormal wood tissue in the form of compression wood may be present General finishing qualities are rated as good Yields ingredient used in cough syrups for treatments of bronchial ailments Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is slight Slight dulling effect on cutting tools Boring Easy Responds well to boring Clean bored surfaces Carving Responds well to carving operations Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Easy to cut in any direction Gluing Easy to glue Good gluing properties Mortising Finishes well Easy to mortise Generally mortises well Moulding Good finishing results Easy to mould Good moulding properties Movement in Service Stable Small Retains shape very well after manufacture Dimensionally stable Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Pre-Boring Recommended Holds nails well Easy to nail Satisfactory resistance to decay above ground Good nailing characteristics Good nail holding properties Planing Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Soft, very uniform in texture and is very easy to work Planes easily and worked surfaces are clean and smooth Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is moderately resistant Sapwood is permeable Permeable Fairly good response to preservative treatment Resistance to Splitting Satisfactory Good Excellent Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to Work Easy to machine Yields clean surfaces Responds well to hand tools Routing & Recessing Routing yields good results Routing is easy Generally good routing qualities Sanding Good sanding properties Good sanding finish Easy to sand Screwing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Screwing yields good results Easy to screw Accept all types of fasteners, and will take fine gauge screws without pilot holes Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Easy to turn Too weak for durable spindles Does not turn as well as some harder woods Like Sugar pine but to a lesser degree, Eastern white pine is reported to leave a very pleasing resinous aroma in the workshop. Veneering Qualities Suitable for slicing Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy Suitable for peeling There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Moderately easy to veneer Steam Bending Poor to Very Poor Results Unsuitable Very poor steam bending characteristics Painting Good results Good painting characteristics Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Polishes and finishes very well Staining Finish is generally good Stains easily Retains soft and mellow figure even under dark stains Varnishing Good results Good varnishing properties Fewer coats of varnish are needed since uneven swelling of grain is less common Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Max. crushing strength = low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low