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Blunting Effect Boring Carving 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 Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Picea glauca Trade Name White spruce Family Name 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 Regions of Distribution North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Canada, United States 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 Environmental Profile Status within its natural growth range has not been officially assessed 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. Heartwood Color Yellow Red Orange White to cream Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Pale red to pink The wood is nearly white to pale yellowish brown. Woods produced by White, Red, Black, and Engelmann spruce are very similar in structure and cannot be differentiated with any degree of certainty. Differences in appearance and properties are mainly dependent upon growth rates of the different species Sapwood Color White Yellow Orange Color not distinct from heartwood White to yellow Paler than heartwood Grain Straight Figure Even Growth rings (figure) Weak (figure) Straight Clear growth rings (figure) Weak figure Even Texture Medium Fine Fine to medium Medium Luster Lustrous Slightly lustrous Natural Durability Durable Moderately durable Non durable Should not be used under high decay hazard conditions without proper protection Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately durable Heartwood has very little resistance to decay Prolonged exposure to the weather is reported to turn the wood light gray, with a silvery sheen Odor Has an odor Very fine Distinct (figure) No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast UK=K US=T13C4S/T11D3S UK=K US=T11B4/T10B3 Drying Defects Splitting Checking Discoloration Some common degrades associated with kiln drying white spruce are water pockets, collapse, and ring failure. The cause is believed to be wetwood Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Easy Moderate shrinkage Air dries rather easily 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). 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. Substitutes Aspen (Populus tremuloides) is similar in strength properties. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Easy White spruce bores well Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Very good properties Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Finishes well Easy to mortise Good mortising properties Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good finishing results Easy to mould The wood responds well to moulding operations. Movement in Service Stable Nailing Very Good to Excellent Results Holds nails well Nails hold poorly Easy to nail Excellent resistance to splitting in nailing operations Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Good planing properties Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Permeable heartwood Heartwood is resistant Heartwood is permeable Heartwood is extremely resistant Very poor response to preservative treatment. Resistance to Splitting Good Excellent Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Routing yields good results Routing is easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Very Good to Excellent Results Screwing yields good results Easy to screw Very good screw holding qualities Excellent screwing properties Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Easy to turn Good results Veneering Qualities There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Moderately easy to veneer Steam Bending Unsuitable Painting Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Satisfactory results Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Finish is generally good Varnishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. 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. Numerical Data 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 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 357 554 kg/cm2 Density 416 kg/m3 Hardness 144 kg Impact Strength 55 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 171 300 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 62 kg/cm2 Stiffness 71 84 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 109 cm-kg Work to Maximum Load 0.35 0.49 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.3 0.32 Weight 432 400 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % References Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois and E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods: Temperate and Tropical. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Madison, Wisconsin. Brown, H.P. and Panshin, A.J.,1940,Commercial Timbers of the United States Their structure, identification,,properties and uses,McGraw-Hill, London Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World: - No.7 North America,TRADA 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. Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London Constantine, Jr., A.J. 1975. Know Your Woods - A Complete Guide to Trees, Woods, and Veneers. Revised by H.J. Hobbs. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York Dallimore, W. and Jackson, A. Bruce,1966,A Handbook of Coniferae and Ginkgoaceae Fourth Ed. Revised by S.G.,Harrison,Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd. London Forest Products Research Laboratory U.K.,1957,A Handbook of Softwoods,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research,HMSO I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12 Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California. Little, E.L. 1980. The Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Western Region. Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York. Markwardt, L.J., Wilson, T.R.C.,1935,Strength and related properties of woods grown in the United States,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture Technical Bulletin,No.479 Mullins, E.J. and McKnight, T.S.,1981,Canadian Woods Their Properties and Uses,University of Toronto Press 3rd Edition Ostrander, M.D.,1974,American Woods Eastern Spruce,USDA, Forest Service American Woods FS-263 Panshin, A.J. and C. deZeeuw. 1980. Textbook of Wood Technology, 4th Edition. McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York. Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press Peh, T.B. and Khoo, K.C.,1984,Timber Properties of Acacia mangium, Gmelina arborea, Paraserianthes,falcataria and their utilization aspects.,The Malaysian Forester, Vol.47, No.4, pp.285-303. Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press Redding, L.W.,1971,Resistance of Timbers to Impregnation with Creosote,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Bulletin No.54 pp.43 T.D.A.,1942,Timber Leaflet No.59 Canadian Spruce (Picea glauca,TRADA Timber Leaflet Timber Development Association Ltd.,1955,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Timber Development Association Ltd. Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition U.S.D.A. Forest Service,1974,Wood Handbook,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Handbook,72 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 Operator's Manual - Preliminary Copy. Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. Western Wood Products Association. 19__. Woods of the Western USA. Published and Distributed by the Western Wood Products Association, Yeon Building, 522 S.W. Fifth Avenue, Portland, Oregon. Wood, A.D.,1963,Plywoods of the World: Their Development, Manufacture and,Application,Johnston & Bacon Ltd. Edinburgh & London Yvon, J.,1975,Le Nieuk (Fillaeopsis discophora,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.159,pp73-6