White spruce (Picea glauca)
Family: Pinaceae
Common names: Adirondack spruce, Blue spruce, Brunswick spruce, Canadian spruce, Cat spruce, Eastern Canadian spruce, Eastern spruce, Maritime spruce, New Brunswick spruce, Northern spruce, Quebec spruce, Single spruce, Skunk spruce, St. John spruce, Western white spruce, White spruce, Yellow spruce
Distributed in: Canada, United States (North America)
Distribution overview: The species is distributed across North America from close to the northern limits of Alaska and British Columbia, east to Labrador, south to Maine, and west to Minnesota. It is also reported to occur in localized regions in northwestern Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming. White spruce thrives on various soil types, and is mostly found in coniferous forests, but sometimes in pure stands. It grows from sea level to near timberline at altitudes of 2000 to 5000 feet (610 to 1524 m). White spruce is also cultivated in Great Britain.
Common uses: Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Casing, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Cooperages, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Food containers, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hardboards, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Insulating boards, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Ladders , Ladders, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Musical instruments, Musical instruments: piano, Musical instruments: strings, Oars, Office furniture, Packing cases, Pallets, Paneling , Particleboard, Plywood, Poles, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rafters, Roofing, Rustic furniture, Tables, Vehicle parts, Veneer
Product sources: Timber produced by White spruce, Black spruce (P. mariana), and Red spruce (P. rubens) are often mixed and marketed together under the trade name Eastern spruce since they are too similar to separate on the basis of structure.
Environment profile: Status within its natural growth range has not been officially assessed
Tree size: Tree height is 20-30 m
The tree is reported to reach a height of 40 to 100 feet (12 to 30 m), with a trunk diameter of 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 cm).
Colors: the heart isYellow, Yellow to golden-yellow to orangeand the sapwoodWhite to yellow, Yellow.The grain isWeak figure, the textureMediumand the lusterSlightly lustrous
Natural durability: Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles, Should not be used under high decay hazard conditions without proper protection
Odor: Very fine
Kiln Schedules: UK=K US=T13C4S/T11D3S
Drying Defects: Discoloration, Splitting
Ease of Drying: Moderate shrinkage
Comments: General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect: Moderate
Boring: Fairly easy to very easy
Carving: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Cutting Resistance: Easy to saw
Gluing: Very good properties
Mortising: good
Moulding: The wood responds well to moulding operations.
Movement in Service: The wood responds well to moulding operations.
Nailing: Nails hold poorly, Very Good to Excellent
Planing: Planes well, to a good finish
Resistance to Impregnation: Permeable sapwood
Resistance to Splitting: Good
Response to hand tools: Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work
Routing recessing: Routing yields good results
Sanding: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Veneering qualities: Moderately easy to veneer, There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits
Steam bending: Unsuitable
Screwing: Very Good to Excellent Results, Very good screw holding qualities; Turning: Good results
Painting: Satisfactory; Polishing: Fairly Easy to Very Easy; Staining: Finish is generally good; Varnishing: Good;
- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
 |
 |
 |
 |
Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,3 |
0,32 |
|
Density |
|
416 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
357 |
554 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
171 |
300 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
144 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
|
55 |
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
62 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
71 |
84 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
7 |
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
3 |
|
% |
Weight |
432 |
400 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
0,35 |
0,49 |
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
109 |
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
|
|
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | Item | Green | Dry | English | Bending Strength | 5082 | 7885 | psi | Density | | 26 | lbs/ft3 | Hardness | | 319 | lbs | Impact Strength | | 22 | inches | Maximum Crushing Strength | 2444 | 4271 | psi | Shearing Strength | | 882 | psi | Stiffness | 1017 | 1199 | 1000 psi | Toughness | | 95 | inch-lbs | Work to Maximum Load | 5 | 7 | inch-lbs/in3 | Specific Gravity | 0.3 | 0.32 | | Weight | 27 | 25 | lbs/ft3 | Radial Shrinkage | 3 | | % | Tangential Shrinkage | 7 | | % | Volumetric Shrinkage | 13 | | % | |
Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. 0 Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Low Work to Maximum Load = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Mor/Bending strength = very low Medium Very small Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low Toughness (total work) = very low Small Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Max. crushing strength = very low Low 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
The wood has moderate properties in weight and density.
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