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Boring Certified Source Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Mortising Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning		Scientific Name Abies lasiocarpa Trade Name Subalpine fir Family Name Pinaceae Common Names Alpine fir, Balsam, Balsam fir, Corkbark fir, Fir, Pino real blanco, Rocky mountain fir, Subalpine fir, Western balsam fir, Western fir, White balsam, White fir Regions of Distribution North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Canada, United States Common Uses Beams, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Cabin construction, Casks, Concrete formwork, Construction, Decks, Decorative plywood, Dressed boards, Factory construction, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Heavy construction, Joists, Light construction, Lumber, Packing cases, Plywood, Porch columns, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Rough boards/dimension stock, Rough construction, Structural plywood, Utility plywood Environmental Profile Rare Abundant/Secure Questionable May be rare in some parts of its range, particularly at the periphery Likely rare in many parts of its natural habitat Generally widespread, secure, and abundant within most of its range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Data source is Nature Conservancy Rank of relative endangerment based primarily on the number of occurrences of the species globally. Rare within its natural habitat in the states of Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. Species with a Rare rating are not currently considered as Endangered or Vulnerable, but are at risk because they normally exist in small numbers, are usually present in small quantities over a wide range, or are naturally concentrated within a very small geographical area Distribution Overview In the U.S. and Canada, Subalpine Fir grows naturally in mountains from central Yukon and the eastern parts of southeast Alaska south through Alberta and British Columbia. It can also be found from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and western Montana south to central Colorado, southern New Mexico and southeast Arizona. Locally, it may be found in northeast Nevada and northwest California as well. Heartwood Color Brown White Yellow Purple Red Whitish Same as sapwood Light buff to yellowish brown Light brown The latewood area of the growth rings may have a reddish brown, lavender, or roseate tinge. Some knots may have a yellowish tinge Sapwood Color Red Brown Yellow White Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Even Straight Generally straight, but not always Even Texture Medium Coarse Medium coarse to coarse Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Very low natural resistance to attack by decay fungi and wood destroying organisms Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste May have a slightly disagreeable smell when green Kiln Schedules 12 - B5 (4/4);T12 - B4 (8/4) U.S Drying Defects Uneven Moisture Content Ring Shakes Splitting Discoloration Wet wood causes most defects. Uneven moisture content Shakes Expect splits Chemical brown stains Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Easy Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Product Sources Subalpine fir has strength properties that are similar to those of White spruce (Picea glauca), Engelman spruce (Picea engelmannii) and Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta). Timber produced by these species are grouped and marketed in the Spruce-Pine-Fir grade. Certified Source Certified Source Boring Fair to good results Fair results Gluing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Excellent results Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to mortise Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Satisfactory moulding qualities Nailing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Holds nails well Good resistance to splitting while nailing Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planes well, to a good finish Good planing properties Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is resistant Screwing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good screw holding properties Excellent screwing properties Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair Strength Properties Surfaces may dent easily Soft Compression strength (parallel to grain) = low Bending strength (MOR) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 4949 8232 psi Crushing Strength 221 456 psi Hardness 343 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 2352 4969 psi Shearing Strength 1005 psi Stiffness 1132 1357 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.24 0.2 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 347 578 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 15 32 kg/cm2 Hardness 155 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 165 349 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 70 kg/cm2 Stiffness 79 95 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.24 0.2 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % References Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Hardwoods - Temperate and Tropical. USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. Canadian Forestry Service. 1981. Canadian Woods - Their Properties and Uses. Third Edition. E.J. Mullins and T.S. McKnight, Editors. Published by University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Canada. Little, E.L. 1980. The Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Western Region. Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York. Panshin, A.J. and C. deZeeuw. Textbook of Wood Technology. McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York. USDA. 1987. Wood Handbook:Wood as an Engineering Material. Agriculture Handbook No. 72. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Madison, Wisconsin. USDA. 1988. Dry Kiln Operators Manual, Preliminary Copy. Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. Western Wood Products Association. 19__. Softwoods of the Western USA. Published and Distributed by the Western Wood Products Association, Yeon Building, 522 S.W. Fifth Avenue, Portland, Oregon.