    
Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
Family: Pinaceae
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
Distributed in: Canada, Mexico, United States (Central America, North America)
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.
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
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.
Environment profile: Widespread, abundant, and globally secure
Tree size: Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm
Colors: the heart isYellow, Yellow to golden-yellow to orangeand the sapwoodWhite to yellow, Yellow.The grain isWavy, the textureUniformand the lusterMedium
Natural durability: Very durable, Very little natural resistance
Odor: No distinctive taste
Kiln Schedules: UK=K US=T13C4S/T11D3S
Kiln Drying Rate: Very slow
Drying Defects: Slight twist/warp, Splitting
Ease of Drying: Variable
Tree Identification: Bole/stem form is straight
Comments: Douglas-Fir is reported to produce the most, in total volume, of timber, lumber, and plywood for veneerGeneral 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
Boring: Very good results
Carving: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Cutting Resistance: Level of difficulty depends on percentage of latewood
Gluing: Very good properties
Mortising: Moderately easy to mortise
Moulding: Moulding ease is moderate
Movement in Service: Moulding ease is moderate
Nailing: Pre-Boring Recommended, Very Good to Excellent
Planing: Very Good to Excellent
Resistance to Abrasion: Peel and slice easily because they are typically well-formed and not very hard
Resistance to Impregnation: Sapwood is resistant
Resistance to Splitting: Satisfactory
Response to hand tools: Variable qualities
Routing recessing: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Sanding: Very Good to Excellent Results
Veneering qualities: Veneers easily, Veneers moderately easy
Steam bending: Moderate
Screwing: Screws hold very well, Very Good to Excellent Results; Turning: Very good
Painting: Satisfactory; Polishing: Satisfactory; Staining: Very Good to Excellent; Varnishing: Satisfactory;
- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
 |
 |
 |
 |
Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,43 |
0,47 |
|
Density |
|
528 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
531 |
860 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
31 |
61 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
279 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
63 |
91 |
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
82 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
109 |
134 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
7 |
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
4 |
|
% |
Weight |
528 |
496 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
0,42 |
0,63 |
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
195 |
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
321 |
592 |
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | Item | Green | Dry | English | Bending Strength | 7558 | 12238 | psi | Crushing Strength | 446 | 872 | psi | Density | | 33 | lbs/ft3 | Hardness | | 616 | lbs | Impact Strength | 25 | 36 | inches | Maximum Crushing Strength | 3906 | 6951 | psi | Shearing Strength | | 1172 | psi | Static Bending | 4572 | 8428 | psi | Stiffness | 1554 | 1917 | 1000 psi | Toughness | | 170 | inch-lbs | Work to Maximum Load | 6 | 9 | inch-lbs/in3 | Specific Gravity | 0.43 | 0.47 | | Weight | 33 | 31 | lbs/ft3 | Radial Shrinkage | 4 | | % | Tangential Shrinkage | 7 | | % | Volumetric Shrinkage | 12 | | % | |
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. 0 Max. crushing strength = medium 0 Hardness (side grain) = very soft 1 Bending strength (MOR) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Max. crushing strength (stiffness) = very low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Hardness (side grain) = soft Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = medium Toughness (total work) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Max. crushing strength = low Density (dry weight) = 15-22 lbs/cu. ft. Weight = moderate Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = high Toughness (total work) = very low Toughness (total work) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = small Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = high
Max. crushing strength = very high
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