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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 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 Abrasion Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Weathering Scientific Name Pseudotsuga menziesii Trade Name Douglas-fir Family Name Pinaceae Synonyms Pseudotsuga taxifolia Common Names Blue Douglas-fir, British Columbia pine, British Columbian pine, Coast Douglas-fir, Colorado Douglas-fir, Colorado pino real, Colorado real, Columbian Pine, Douglas fir, Douglas spruce, Douglas-fir, Douglas-fir (Coast), Inland Douglas-fir, Interior Douglas-fir, Oregon Douglas-fir, Oregon pine, Puget Sound pine, Red fir, Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir, Yellow fir Regions of Distribution Central America, North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Canada, Mexico, United States Common Uses Agricultural implements, Beams, Boat building (general), Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Boat building: masts, Boxes and crates, Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Casks, Concrete formwork, Construction, Cooperages, Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Domestic flooring, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Figured veneer, Flooring, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Furniture, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Joists, Ladders, Light construction, Lock gates, Marine construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Packing cases, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Pile-driver cushions, Piling, Plain veneer, Plywood, Poles, Porch columns, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad cars, Railroad ties, Rough construction, Sporting Goods, Structural plywood, Structural work, Studs, Sub-flooring, Utility crossarms, Utility plywood, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Warehouse construction, Wharf construction Environmental Profile Vulnerable Abundant/Secure Widespread, abundant, and globally secure Rare in some parts of its range, particularly at the periphery Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview The growth range of Douglas fir includes Alberta, British Columbia, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Coast Douglas-fir occurs in pure stands of vast forests on moist, well drained soils. Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir may occur in pure stands or mixed coniferous forests, and thrive mainly on rocky soils of mountain slopes. Douglas-fir has also been introduced to other regions in the world, including Great Britain, Ireland, France, Belgium, Germany, New Zealand, and Australia as a source of timber. Heartwood Color Red Brown Pink Yellow Black Orange Purple Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Reddish brown Red Pale red to pink Brown Yellow White to cream Light red Large color variation Dark brown There is typically a clean-cut division between the hard, red-brown summerwood bands and the paler, softer, pinkish-yellow springwood Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Green/Grey Pink Paler than heartwood White to yellow Well defined Reddish white Pinkish Grain Figure Straight Distinct (figure) Wavy Irregular Crossed Even Closed Straight Distinct figure Wavy Distinct and very fine figure Occasionally wavy Irregular Irregular or uneven grain occasionally Grain shows flame-shaped outlines Figure shows spiral Tendency towards curly or wavy characteristics sometimes. Texture Coarse Medium Fine Medium to coarse Coarse Uniform Uneven Medium Fine to medium Wood with narrow growth rings are quite uniform in texture while those with wider rings are very often uneven textured Luster Medium High Natural Growth Defects Latex or other ducts Spongy heart may be present. Gum/resin streaks Gum/resin exudation Natural Durability Very durable Durable Resistant to termites Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to termites Resistant to marine borers Moderately durable Durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to marine borer attack Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Very little natural resistance Resistant to attack from pinworms (ambrosia beetles) Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Needs chemical protection in high decay conditions Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Weathering Excellent Odor Has an odor No distinctive taste Green wood has resinous odor Toxicity Some toxic effects Respiratory effects Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast UK=K US=T13C4S/T11D3S UK=H US=T10D4S/T8D3S Fr=7 T11 - A4 (4/4) US T10 - A3 (8/4) US Schedule K (4/4) United Kingdom Drying Defects Splitting Checking Slight surface checking Slight twist/warp Slight end splitting No surface checking Slight cupping No twisting or warping No cupping, generally Expect slight degrade due to knots, splits, and loosening Expect moderate degrade due to knots, splits, and loosening Slight collapse and honeycomb Ring failure Red-Brown chemical stains, and gray sapwood stains are common Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Slowly Rapidly Variable Reconditioning Treatement Little degrade Easy Moderate Heartwood has low moisture content Dries rapidly Kiln Drying Rate Very slow Naturally dries at a moderate speed Naturally dries slowly Naturally dries quickly Drying rate is slow Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Sapwood width is 15-20 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Sapwood width is 20-25 cm Bole length is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 40-50 m Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 50-60 m Bole length is 30-40 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Resinous exudates from any cut on the living tree is reported to leave a coating of yellow rosin as a protection against insect or fungal attack, after the turpentine evaporates Product Sources Supplies of Douglas-fir are adequate since the species grows rapidly, and its growth range extends over a wide area in North America. It is usually priced in the medium to lower range. Remarkably knot-free, strong, and light, Douglas-fir is considered to be one of the best known softwood timbers. Certified Source Certified Source Substitutes Western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) Comments Douglas-Fir is reported to produce the most, in total volume, of timber, lumber, and plywood for veneer General finishing qualities are rated as good Generally stron and hard Lumber from old trees is valuable because it is free of knots Blunting Effect Moderate High to severe Blunting effect on machining is moderate Harder late wood can blunt edges Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Very good results Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Level of difficulty depends on percentage of latewood Difficult to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to glue Moderate gluing properties Very good properties Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moderately easy to mortise Excellent mortising properties Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding ease is moderate Excellent moulding properties Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Small Medium Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Pre-Boring Recommended Very Good to Excellent Results Poor to Very Poor Results