Relative Working Properties
- 1 = Fair
- 2 = Good
- 3 = Very Good
- 4 = Excellent
| Species | Machining | Resistance to Splitting in Nailing & Screwing | Nail and Screw Holding Ability | Gluing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas-fir | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Western larch | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Engelmann spruce | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| Western hemlock | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Noble fir | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Grand Fir | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Subalpine fir | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| Pacific silver fir | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| California red fir | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Ponderosa pine | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Western white pine | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Sugar pine | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Lodgepole pine | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| White spruce | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Sitka spruce | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Alaska yellow-cedar | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Port-Orford-cedar | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Incense-cedar | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Western redcedar | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Redwood | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Western juniper | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Red alder | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Bigleaf maple | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Oregon white oak | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Tanoak | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Paper birch | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| California black oak | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Black cottonwood | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| Golden chinkapin | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Pacific madrone | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Myrtlewood | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Sources:
Oregon State University, College of Forestry, Department of Wood Science & Engineering
Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material (USDA Agricultural Handbook No. 72) Prepared by: U.S. Forest Products Laboratory
Western Wood Products Association and Western Hardwood Association
Physical Properties
| Species | Specific Gravity (12% MC) | Avg. Shipping Wt. (kgs/m3) Air dry Green | % Across the Grain Shinkage (6% MC) | Modulus of Rupture (K. Pascals) | Modulus of Elasticity (M. Pascals) | Side Hardness (Newtons) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas-fir | 0.48 | 545 689 | 7.6 | 85000 | 13400 | 3200 |
| Western larch | 0.52 | 577 801 | 9.1 | 90000 | 12900 | 3700 |
| Engelmann spruce | 0.35 | 432 577 | 7.1 | 64000 | 8900 | 1750 |
| Western hemlock | 0.45 | 497 657 | 7.8 | 78000 | 11300 | 2400 |
| Noble fir | 0.39 | 416 481 | 8.3 | 74000 | 11900 | 1800 |
| Grand Fir | 0.39 | 416 753 | 7.0 | 68000 | 10300 | 2100 |
| Subalpine fir | 0.32 | 449 721 | 7.5 | 61000 | 10800 | 2200 |
| Pacific silver fir | 0.43 | 432 577 | 9.2 | 73000 | 11900 | 1900 |
| California red fir | 0.38 | 432 769 | 7.9 | 72000 | 10300 | 2200 |
| Ponderosa pine | 0.40 | 449 721 | 6.2 | 65000 | 8900 | 2000 |
| Western white pine | 0.38 | 432 561 | 7.4 | 67000 | 10100 | 1900 |
| Sugar pine | 0.36 | 400 833 | 5.6 | 57000 | 8200 | 1700 |
| Lodgepole pine | 0.41 | 465 625 | 6.7 | 65000 | 9200 | 2100 |
| White spruce | 0.36 | 449 561 | 8.2 | 68000 | 9200 | 2100 |
| Sitka spruce | 0.40 | 449 529 | 7.5 | 78000 | 10800 | 2300 |
| Alaska yellow-cedar | 0.44 | 497 577 | 6.8 | 77000 | 9800 | 2600 |
| Port-Orford-cedar | 0.43 | 465 577 | 6.9 | 88000 | 11700 | 2800 |
| Incense-cedar | 0.37 | 416 721 | 5.2 | 55000 | 7200 | 2100 |
| Western redcedar | 0.32 | 368 432 | 5.0 | 51700 | 7700 | 1600 |
| Redwood (young growth) | 0.35 | 449 801 | 4.7 | 54000 | 7600 | 1900 |
| Western juniper | 0.44 | 480 800 | 4.7 | 53000 | 6100 | 2800 |
| Red alder | 0.41 | 449 737 | 7.3 | 68000 | 9500 | 2600 |
| Bigleaf maple | 0.48 | 545 753 | 7.1 | 74000 | 10000 | 3800 |
| Oregon white oak | 0.72 | 801 1105 | 9.0 | 71000 | 10000 | 7400 |
| Tanoak | 0.66 | 657 993 | 10.0 | 112000 | 12000 | 6200 |
| Paper birch | 0.55 | 609 881 | 9.9 | 85000 | 11000 | 4000 |
| California black oak | 0.57 | 641 1157 | 6.6 | 60000 | 6800 | 4900 |
| Black cottonwood | 0.35 | 384 737 | 8.6 | 57000 | 8700 | 1600 |
| Golden chinkapin | 0.46 | 513 977 | 7.4 | 74000 | 8500 | 3200 |
| Pacific madrone | 0.65 | 721 961 | 11.9 | 72000 | 8500 | 6500 |
| Myrtlewood | 0.55 | 625 865 | 8.1 | 55000 | 6500 | 5600 |
Source:
Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material (USDA Agricultural Handbook No. 72) Prepared by: U.S. Forest Products Laboratory
