White fir (Abies grandis)
Family: Pinaceae
Common names: Epicea, Fir, Giant fir, Grand fir, Larch, Lowland fir, Lowland white fir, Menzies fir, Oregon fir, Sapin, Silver fir, Western balsam fir, Western fir, Western white fir, White fir, Yellow fir
Distributed in: Canada, United States (North America)
Distribution overview: In the U.S. and Canada, Grand Fir is native to the Northern Rocky Mountain region from southeast British Columbia south to western Montana and central Idaho, northeast from southwest British Columbia and western Washington to northwest California. It can be generally found in coniferous forests, preferring mountain slopes in cool, humid climates and valleys. This species of fir is also grown in Great Britain.
Common uses: Beams, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Cabin construction, Casks, Concrete formwork, Construction, Cooperages, Decks, Decorative plywood, Dressed boards, Factory construction, Flooring, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Heavy construction, Joinery, Joists, Light construction, Lumber, Packing cases, Plywood, Porch columns, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Rough boards/dimension stock, Rough construction
Product sources: Strength properties of White fir are similar to those of Pacific silver fir (A. amabilis), and is also marketed with Western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla).
Environment profile: Rare in parts of its natural range (population is at risk)
Tree size: Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm
Colors: the heart isYellow, Yellow to golden-yellow to orangeand the sapwoodWhite, Yellow.The grain isWeak figure, the textureMedium to coarse
Natural durability: Susceptible to insect attack, Very low natural resistance to attack by decay fungi and wood destroying organisms
Odor: No specific smell or taste
Kiln Schedules: UK=L US=T14C6S/T12C5S -
Kiln Drying Rate: Naturally dries at a moderate speed
Drying Defects: Uneven moisture content, Wetwood
Ease of Drying: Slowly
Tree Identification: Bole/stem form is unknown
Comments: General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect: Little
Boring: Good results
Cutting Resistance: Easy to saw
Gluing: Very Good to Excellent Results
Mortising: Very Good to Excellent
Moulding: Very Good to Excellent
Movement in Service: Very Good to Excellent
Nailing: Poor to Very Poor , Very Good to Excellent
Planing: Very Good to Excellent
Resistance to Impregnation: Sapwood is permeable
Response to hand tools: Easy to machine
Routing recessing: Very Good to Excellent Results
Veneering qualities: Veneers easily, Veneers moderately easy
Screwing: Very Good to Excellent Results, Very good screw holding qualities; Turning: Very Good to Excellent Results
Painting: Very Good to Excellent; Polishing: Very Good to Excellent; Staining: Very Good to Excellent; Varnishing: Very Good to Excellent;
- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
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 |
 |
 |
Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,28 |
0,25 |
|
Density |
|
368 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
390 |
603 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
18 |
34 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
184 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
55 |
63 |
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
63 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
86 |
104 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
7 |
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
2 |
|
% |
Weight |
384 |
368 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
0,35 |
0,49 |
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
137 |
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
|
|
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | Item | Green | Dry | English | Bending Strength | 5558 | 8581 | psi | Crushing Strength | 265 | 490 | psi | Density | | 23 | lbs/ft3 | Hardness | | 407 | lbs | Impact Strength | 22 | 25 | inches | Maximum Crushing Strength | 2924 | 5117 | psi | Shearing Strength | | 900 | psi | Stiffness | 1231 | 1490 | 1000 psi | Toughness | | 119 | inch-lbs | Work to Maximum Load | 5 | 7 | inch-lbs/in3 | Specific Gravity | 0.28 | 0.25 | | Weight | 24 | 23 | lbs/ft3 | Radial Shrinkage | 2 | | % | Tangential Shrinkage | 7 | | % | Volumetric Shrinkage | 11 | | % | |
Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. 0 Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Bending strength (MOR) = low Work to Maximum Load = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Max. crushing strength = low Density (dry weight) = 15-22 lbs/cu. ft. Toughness (total work) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = very low Toughness (total work) = low Surfaces may dent or scratch easily Soft Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = small Max. crushing strength (stiffness) = very low Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Crushing strength = low Bending strength (MOR) = medium
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