The Fir Family
Scientific Name: | Abies balsamea |
Location: | Northeastern North America |
Dried Weight: | 25lbs/ft3 |
Janka Hardness: | 40lbf |
Crushing Strength: | 5,000lbf /in2 |
Balsam Fir has a heartwood that is usually white to a reddish brown and will darken with age. The grain is straight and it has a uniform medium texture. The resin canals are absent. The wood is rated as non-durable to perishable in regards to decay. It is easy to work with and glues, stains, and finishes well.
Scientific Name: | Abies magnifica |
Location: | Primarily Sierra, Nevada mountain range |
Dried Weight: | 27lbs/ft3 |
Janka Hardness: | 500lbf |
Crushing Strength: | 5,410lbf /in2 |
California Fir has a heartwood that is usually white to a reddish brown and will darken with age. The grain is straight and it has a uniform medium texture. The resin canals are absent. The wood is rated as non-durable to perishable in regards to decay. It is easy to work with and glues, stains, and finishes well.
Scientific Name: | Pseudotsuga menziesii |
Location: | Western North America |
Dried Weight: | 32lbs/ft3 |
Janka Hardness: | 620lbf |
Crushing Strength: | 6,950lbf /in2 |
Douglas Fir is usually a light brown color. The grain is generally straight, though it can be wavy or curly occasionally, and it has a medium to coarse texture. Small to medium resin canals are present. It is rated as moderately durable in regards to decay. The wood has a moderate blunting effect on cutters. It stains, glues, and finishes well.
Scientific Name: | Abies alba |
Location: | Mountainous Region of Europe. |
Dried Weight: | 26lbs/ft3 |
Janka Hardness: | 320lbf |
Crushing Strength: | 5,950lbf /in2 |
European Fir has a heartwood that is usually white to a reddish brown and will darken with age. The grain is straight and it has a uniform medium texture. The resin canals are absent. The wood is rated as non-durable to perishable in regards to decay. It is easy to work with and glues, stains, and finishes well.
Scientific Name: | Abies grandis |
Location: | Northwestern USA and Southern BC |
Dried Weight: | 28lbs/ft3 |
Janka Hardness: | 490lbf |
Crushing Strength: | 5,200lbf /in2 |
Grand Fir has a heartwood that is usually white to a reddish brown and will darken with age. The grain is straight and it has a uniform medium texture. The resin canals are absent. The wood is rated as non-durable to perishable in regards to decay. It is easy to work with and glues, stains, and finishes well.
Scientific Name: | Abies procera |
Location: | Pacific northwest of USA |
Dried Weight: | 26lbs/ft3 |
Janka Hardness: | 410lbf |
Crushing Strength: | 5,730lbf /in2 |
Noble Fir has a heartwood that is usually white to a reddish brown and will darken with age. The grain is straight and it has a uniform medium texture. The resin canals are absent. The wood is rated as non-durable to perishable in regards to decay. It is easy to work with and glues, stains, and finishes well.
Scientific Name: | Abies amabilis |
Location: | Pacific Northwest of North America |
Dried Weight: | 27lbs/ft3 |
Janka Hardness: | 430lbf |
Crushing Strength: | 6,060lbf /in2 |
Pacific Fir has a heartwood that is usually white to a reddish brown and will darken with age. The grain is straight and it has a uniform medium texture. The resin canals are absent. The wood is rated as non-durable to perishable in regards to decay. It is easy to work with and glues, stains, and finishes well.
Scientific Name: | Abies lasiocarpa |
Location: | Mountainour regions of Eastern North America |
Dried Weight: | 33lbs/ft3 |
Janka Hardness: | 350lbf |
Crushing Strength: | 4,910lbf /in2 |
Subalpine Fir has a heartwood that is usually white to a reddish brown and will darken with age. The grain is straight and it has a uniform medium texture. The resin canals are absent. The wood is rated as non-durable to perishable in regards to decay. It is easy to work with and glues, stains, and finishes well.
Scientific Name: | Abies concolor |
Location: | Mountainous regions of western USA |
Dried Weight: | 26lbs/ft3 |
Janka Hardness: | 480lbf |
Crushing Strength: | 5,740lbf /in2 |
White Fir has a heartwood that is usually white to a reddish brown and will darken with age. The grain is straight and it has a uniform medium texture. The resin canals are absent. The wood is rated as non-durable to perishable in regards to decay. It is easy to work with and glues, stains, and finishes well.