Clicking
any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back
to this top position.
Use the following links to
jump to the associated section in the main data.
Blunting Effect
Boring
Carving
Certified Source
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 Drying Rate
Kiln Schedules
Light-Induced Color Change
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Natural Growth Defects
Numerical Data
Odor
Painting
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resin Content
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
| |
Common Names
Idaho white pine, Mountain pine, Mountain white pine, Pine, Silver pine, Soft pine, Western white pine, White pine
Regions of Distribution
North America
Countries of Distribution
[VIEW MAP]
Canada, United States
Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boat building: decking, Boat building: masts, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Casks, Domestic flooring, Drawing boards, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Factory flooring, Flooring, Furniture, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Light construction, Matchboxes, Matches, Millwork, Moldings, Packing cases, Paneling , Paneling, Partitions, Plywood, Rafters, Roofing, Shakes, Sheathing, Shingles, Siding, Sub-flooring, Toys, Trimming, Vehicle parts, Wainscotting
Environmental Profile
| Abundant/Secure |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Rare |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Widespread, abundant and globally secure |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| May be rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Data source is Nature Conservancy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distribution Overview
This species occurs in Alberta, British Columbia, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington. It grows primarily in western Montana and northern Idaho. Western white pine is sometimes referred to as 'Idaho White pine' because it attain its best development in Idaho. The tree is often found in mixed forests, occasionally in nearly pure stands, in moist mountain soils, and grows from sea level to an elevation of up to 3500 feet (1067 m) in the northern parts of its range, and to 6000 to 9800 feet (1829 to 2987 m) in the south.
Heartwood Color
| Red |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Brown |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Yellow |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Pink |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Orange |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Purple |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| White to cream |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Pale brown |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Reddish brown |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Red |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Pale yellow to reddish brown or cream to light brown |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Numerous knots, which are darker in color |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fine resin ducts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Darkens upon exposure |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The timber a very popular choice for panelling
The wood is similar to Eastern white pine in appearance.
Sapwood Color
| White |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Yellow |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Red |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| White to yellow |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Same as heartwood |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Nearly white to pale yelllowish white |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Narrow to medium in width |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grain
| Straight |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Figure |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Growth rings (figure) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Even |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distinct (figure) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Weak (figure) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Straight |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Clear growth rings (figure) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Weak figure |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Straight and even |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distinct figure |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Texture
| Medium |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fine |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Coarse |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Medium |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Medium coarse to coarse |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fine |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fair to medium coarse |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Natural Growth Defects
Natural Durability
| Non-durable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Moderately durable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Perishable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Susceptible to insect attack |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Resistant to powder post beetles |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Non durable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Moderately durable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Some natural resistance to attack by decay fungi |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Moderately resistant |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Chemical protection required before application under conditions promoting decay |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Odor
| Has an odor |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Has a taste |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Slight resinous odor |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| No taste |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Resin Content
Light-Induced Color Change
Kiln Schedules
| Dry at a moderate speed |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Drying (speed) is fast |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| UK=L US=T146C6S/T12C5S |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| UK=H US=T10D4S/T8D3S Fr=7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| T9-C5(4/4);T7-C4(8/4)Us Schedule L (4/4) United Kingdom |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Drying Defects
| Distortion |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Checking |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Slight twist/warp |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Slight surface checking |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Chemical brown stains |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ease of Drying
| Fairly Easy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Rapidly |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Reconditioning Treatement |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Easy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Moderate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kiln Drying Rate
Tree Size
| Tree height is 20-30 m |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Tree height is 30-40 m |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Sapwood width is 5-10 cm |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Bole length is 10-20 m |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Tree height is 10-20 m |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Bark width is 25-30 mm |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Sapwood width is 10-15 cm |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Certified Source
Substitutes
Obeche (Triplochiton scleroxylon)
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect
| Blunting effect on machining is slight |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Slight blunting effect on cutting edges |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Boring
| Easy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Responds very well to boring |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carving
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cutting Resistance
| Easy to saw |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Easy to saw, especially if cutting edges are kept very sharp |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gluing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fair to Good Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Easy to glue |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Moderate gluing properties |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Excellent gluing properties |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mortising
| Finishes well |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Easy to mortise |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Excellent mortising characteristics |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Moulding
| Good finishing results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Easy to mould |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Very good moulding properties |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Movement in Service
| Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Excellent Stability - Small Movement |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Small dimensional changes in response to fluctuations in atmospheric conditions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nailing
| Fair to Good Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Holds nails well |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Easy to nail |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Satisfactory resistance to decay above ground |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Good nail holding properties |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 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 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Works to yield very clean and smooth surfaces |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Very good planning properties |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Resistance to Impregnation
| Permeable sapwood |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Permeable heartwood |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Resistant heartwood |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Resistant sapwood |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Sapwood is moderately resistant |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Permeable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Moderately resistant to preservative treatment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Heartwood is moderately resistant |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Resistance to Splitting
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to Work |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Easy to machine |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Yields a smooth, clean finish |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Responds well to hand tools |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Requires very sharp cutting edges |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Routing & Recessing
| Routing yields good results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Routing is easy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sanding
Screwing
| Fair to Good Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Screwing yields good results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Easy to screw |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Good screw holding properties |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Excellent screwing properties |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Turning
| Good results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Easy to turn |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Turns well |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Veneering Qualities
| Veneers moderately easy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Difficult to veneer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Veneers easily |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Suitable for peeling |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Suitable for peeling |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Moderately easy to veneer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steam Bending
| Fair to Good Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Generally unsuitable for steam bending |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Painting
| Fair to Good Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Good results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Takes paint well |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Satisfactory results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Polishing
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fair to Good Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Good results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Generally polishes well |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Staining
| Fair to Good Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Finish is generally good |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Stains well |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Satisfactory |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Varnishing
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fair to Good Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Good results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Varnishes well |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Strength Properties
| Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Hardness (side grain) = very soft |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |