top

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.

Boring
Carving
Comments
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
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
Natural Growth Defects
Numerical Data
Odor
Painting
Planing
Polishing
Product Sources
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Pinus resinosa

Trade Name
Red pine

Family Name
Pinaceae

Wood Image 1

Common Names
American red pine, Canadian red pine, Hard pine, Norway pine, Ottawa red pine, Pig iron pine, Pine, Pitch pine, Quebec red pine, Red pine, Shellbark Norway

Regions of Distribution
North America

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Canada, United States

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Beams, Blinds, Boat building (general), Boat building: masts, Boxes and crates, Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Casks, Chemical derivatives, Concrete formwork, Construction, Crossties, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Factory construction, Flooring, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Fuelwood, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Joists, Light construction, Millwork, Moldings, Packing cases, Pallets, Piling, Poles, Porch columns, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Railroad ties, Rough construction, Shakes, Sheathing, Shingles, Shutters, Siding, Stakes, Structural work, Studs, Toys, Trimming, Vats

Environmental Profile
Rare
Rare in parts of its natural range (population is at risk)
Environmental status not officially assessed


Distribution Overview
Native to the northeastern part of North America, the growth range of Red pine extends from Newfoundland and Quebec west to Ontario and southeastern Manitoba, and south to northeastern Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, northern Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, and Maine. It prefers well-drained soils, especially in sandy plains, and is usually found in mixed forests. It grows at elevations of 700 to 1400 feet (213 to 427 m) in the northern regions of its range, up to 2700 feet (823 m) in the Adirondacks, and at 3800 to 4300 feet (1158 to 1311 m) in West Virginia.

Heartwood Color
Brown
Purple
Yellow
Red
Pale red to pink
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Reddish brown
Red
Pale brown
Light red to orange-brown or reddish brown


Sapwood Color
White
Brown
Red
White to yellow
Well defined
Paler than heartwood
Wide


Grain
Straight
Figure
Growth rings (figure)
Even
Distinct (figure)

Straight
Clear growth rings (figure)
Straight and even
Growth rings fairly distinct
Distinct figure


Texture
Medium
Fine
Medium
Fine to medium
Fine
Coarse


Luster
High


Natural Growth Defects
Latex or other ducts


Natural Durability
Perishable
Durable
Non durable
Moderately durable
Very little resistance to decay
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present
Absorbs and retains enough chemical preservatives

Chemical presevatives allow it to be used for applications such as poles, piling, and railroad ties.

Odor
Strong resinous odor
No specific taste


Kiln Schedules
Drying (speed) is fast
UK=K US=T13C4S/T11D3S
UK=H US=T10D4S/T8D3S Fr=7
T12-B4(4/4); T11-B3(8/4) US Schedule L (4/4) United Kingdom


Drying Defects
Checking
Slight twist/warp
Slight surface checking
No twisting or warping
No surface checking
Slight cupping
No cupping, generally
May warp


Ease of Drying
Slowly
Thick Stock Requires Care
Easy
Veneer dries relatively rapidly, with little degrade except slight tendency to split
Seasons fairly rapidly


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is cylindrical


Tree Size
Tree height is 10-20 m


Product Sources
The largest Radiata pine resource in the world is believed to be in Chile, where the climate is quite favorable for the cultivation of Radiata pine. Radiata pine trees grown on plantations in Chile are often ready to harvest in 16 to 25 years. The species is also grown for commercial consumption on plantations in several countries, including New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. It is the most often planted softwood in both temperate and warm climates, with most of the timber on the market originating from plantation grown trees.

Reports from New Zealand indicate that there are currently (March, 1995) no independently certified sources of Radiata pine. Local laws governing the management of New Zealand plantation forests prohibit activities that will adversely affect the environment. Certified wood products are, however, expected to become available in the near future. Most of the exports from New Zealand are in the form of two-by-four sawn boards for construction and logs to Australia, Asia, and some to the United States. \

Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Boring
Fairly easy to very easy
Fair to good results


Carving
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results


Gluing
Easy to glue
Moderate gluing properties
Bonds well with all types of commercial adhesives


Mortising
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Moulding
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Movement in Service
Stable
Moderate dimensional stability when properly seasoned
Medium


Nailing
Holds nails well
Easy to nail
Satisfactory resistance to decay above ground
Good nail holding properties


Planing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results


Resistance to Impregnation
Permeable sapwood
Resistant sapwood
Resistant heartwood
Sapwood is permeable
Permeable
Heartwood is moderately resistant
Very easy to penetrate with preservatives


Response to Hand Tools
Responds Readily
Easy to machine
Yields clean surfaces
Responds readily to ordinary tools in planing and other machining operations


Routing & Recessing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Sanding
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results


Screwing
Screwing yields good results
Easy to screw
Satisfactory resistance to decay above ground
Firmly holds screws


Turning
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Veneering Qualities
There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits
Moderately easy to veneer


Steam Bending
Moderate


Painting
Good results
Satisfactory results
Satisfactory painting response, but if contains excessive resin, it may cause problems


Polishing
Good results


Staining
Finish is generally good


Varnishing
Good results


Strength Properties
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Hardness (side grain) = very soft
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft.
Max. crushing strength = medium
Bending strength (MOR) = medium
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Work to Maximum Load = very low
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low
Max. crushing strength = low
Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low
Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low
Toughness (total work) = very low
Toughness (total work) = low
Soft wood, with surfaces denting easily
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium
Moderate weight
Max. crushing strength (stiffness) = very low
Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.
Compression strength (parallel to grain) = medium
Bending strength (MOR) = very low


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength653911182psi
Crushing Strength255588psi
Density29lbs/ft3
Hardness442lbs
Impact Strength2525inches
Maximum Crushing Strength28805595psi
Shearing Strength1055psi
Stiffness127215501000 psi
Toughness130inch-lbs
Work to Maximum Load58inch-lbs/in3
Specific Gravity0.380.42
Weight3529lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage4%
Tangential Shrinkage7%
Volumetric Shrinkage11%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength459786kg/cm2
Crushing Strength1741kg/cm2
Density464kg/m3
Hardness200kg
Impact Strength6363cm
Maximum Crushing Strength202393kg/cm2
Shearing Strength74kg/cm2
Stiffness891081000 kg/cm2
Toughness149cm-kg
Work to Maximum Load0.350.56cm-kg/cm3
Specific Gravity0.380.42
Weight560464kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage4%
Tangential Shrinkage7%

References
Betts, H.S.,1945,American Woods - Red Pine,USDA, Forest Service American Woods

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

Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1945,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research

Fuster Riera, P.,1947,Primera Contribucion al Conocimiento de las Maderas de la Guinea,Continental Espanola. (first contribution to a knowledge of timbers from,Spanish Guinea.,Inst. de Estudios Africanos y de la Direccion General de Marruecos y,Colonias, Madrid,pp250

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

Little, E.L. 1980. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Eastern 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

Mirov, N.T. 1967. The Genus PINUS. The Ronald Press Company, New York. LCC Card No. 67-14783.

Mullins, E.J. and McKnight, T.S.,1981,Canadian Woods Their Properties and Uses,University of Toronto Press 3rd Edition

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

Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London

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.