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Norway Spruce Sample Data Page
( Return to The Wood
Explorer CD Main Page )
Also see Eastern
White Pine and Mahogany
Each report would normally be
associated with 1-10 photos of the wood.
Norway
Spruce
Scientific Name
Picea abies
Trade Name
Norway spruce
Family Name
Pinaceae
Common Names
Baltic white pine
Baltic whitewood
Common spruce
European spruce
European whitewood
Finnish whitewood
Fir
Gran
Northern whitewood
Norway spruce
Russian whitewood
Spruce
Spruce fir
Violin wood
White baltic
White deal
White fir
White pine
Whitewood
Regions of Distribution
Eastern Europe
Western Europe
Countries of Distribution
Finland
Germany
Norway
Russia
Sweden
United Kingdom
Common Uses
Balusters
Boat building: masts
Boxes and crates
Building materials
Carvings
Casks
Ceiling
Cooperages
Core Stock
Decorative plywood
Decorative veneer
Domestic flooring
Drum sticks
Excelsior
Factory flooring
Figured veneer
Flooring
Food containers
Furniture
General carpentry
Interior construction
Joinery (external): ground contact
Joinery
Ladders
Light construction
Millwork
Mine timbers
Musical instruments
Musical instruments: piano
Musical instruments: strings
Organ pipes
Packing cases
Parquet flooring
Plain veneer
Plywood corestock
Plywood
Poles
Pulp/Paper products
Sounding boards
Stair rails
Stairworks
Stringers
Structural plywood
Sub-flooring
Utility plywood
Veneer
Violin bows
Violin
Wainscotting
Xylophones
Environmental Profile
••••••••••
Widely abundant
••••••••••
Rare (read note below for sub-species)
••••••••••
Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center
A sub-species, P. abies ssp. obovata , which is native to Norway, Finland, and
Sweden, is currently classified as Rare within its natural habitat in Norway
Distribution Overview
The species is widely distributed throughout Europe, except in Denmark and the
Netherlands. Although Norway spruce is native to and occurs in the wild over
most of northern and central Europe, it is widely cultivated in the United
Kingdom and southeastern Canada. It has also been successfully planted in the
northeast, the Rocky Mountains, and the Pacific Coast regions in the United
States. The tree usually grows in moist soils in humid, cool, temperate regions.
Heartwood Color
•••••••••+
White
•••••••••+
Brown
••••••••••
Yellow
••••••••••
Orange
••••••••••
Pink
••••••••••
Red
•••••••••+
White to cream
••••••••••
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
••••••••••
Pinkish brown
••••••••••
Brown
The wood varies from almost white to pale yellow-brownish in color
Sapwood Color
••••••••••
Red
••••••••••
Brown
••••••••••
Yellow
••••••••••
White
•••••••••+
Color not distinct from heartwood
Grain
••••••••••
Figure
••••••••••
Growth rings (figure)
••••••••••
Straight
••••••••••
Even
••••••••••
Crossed
••••••••••
Spiral
••••••••••
Other (figure)
••••••••••
Weak (figure)
••••••••••
Clear growth rings (figure)
••••••••••
Straight
••••••••••
Weak figure
••••••••••
Spiral
••••••••••
Other figure
••••••••••
Generally straight, but not always
Growth rings are visible because of the contrast between the darker outer
latewood and the lighter earlywood.
Texture
••••••••••
Fine
••••••••••
Medium
••••••••••
Fine
••••••••••
Medium
Luster
••••••••••
Medium
••••••••••
Low
••••••••••
High
••••••••••
Slightly lustrous
••••••••••
Lustrous
The material possesses a natural luster
Natural Growth Defects
••••••••••
Latex or other ducts
••••••••••
Gum/resin streaks
Natural Durability
••••••••••
Non-durable
••••••••••
Perishable
••••••••••
Susceptible to insect attack
••••••••••
Moderately durable
••••••••••
Sapwood non-resistant to furniture beetles
••••••••••
Resistant to powder post beetles
••••••••••
Non durable
••••••••••
Susceptible to attack by fungi
••••••••••
Sapwood is vulnerable to attack by furniture beetles
••••••••••
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
••••••••••
Resistant to attack from pinworms (ambrosia beetles)
••••••••••
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present
••••••••••
Perishable
••••••••••
Moderately durable
••••••••••
Heartwood is vulnerable to attack by longhorn and pinhole borer beetles, and by
wood wasps
Odor
••••••••••
Has an odor
••••••••••
No specific smell or taste
Resin Content
The tree produces resin. Resin exuded through the bark of the tree is called
Burgundy pitch, and has been used to produce plasters
Toxicity
••••••••••
Some toxic effects
••••••••••
Respiratory effects
••••••••••
Dermatitic effects
Kiln Schedules
••••••••••
Drying (speed) is fast
••••••••••
Dry at a moderate speed
Drying Defects
••••••••••
Splitting
••••••••••
Distortion
••••••••••
Checking
••••••••••
Loose Knots
••••••••••
Slight end splitting
••••••••••
Expect moderate degrade due to knots, splits, and loosening
••••••••••
Slight twist/warp
••••••••••
Slight surface checking
••••••••••
Moderate surface checking
There is little tendency for the wood to check and split during drying. Knots
may split and loosen, and material with pronounced spiral grain may distort
Ease of Drying
•••••••••+
Fairly Easy
••••••••••
Moderately Difficult to Difficult
••••••••••
Rapidly
••••••••••
Slowly
••••••••••
Reconditioning Treatement
••••••••••
Thick Stock Requires Care
••••••••••
Requires special attention
••••••••••
Little degrade
••••••••••
Easy
••••••••••
Moderate
••••••••••
Requires care to minimize degrade
••••••••••
Dries rapidly
••••••••••
Air-dries rather well
Kiln Drying Rate
••••••••••
Naturally dries quickly
••••••••••
Naturally dries at a moderate speed
Tree Size
••••••••••
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
••••••••••
Tree height is 30-40 m
••••••••••
Tree height is 20-30 m
••••••••••
Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm
The large tree usually has a straight trunk and grows to a height of about 80
feet (24 m), with a diameter of about 24 inches (60 cm). The young trees are
used for Christmas trees.
Product Sources
Much of Norway spruce bes imported into the United Kingdom from Russia and
Scandinavia under the trade name of Whitewood or White deal.
Certified Source
••••••••••
Certified Source
Substitutes
Simarouba (Simarouba amara)
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect
••••••••••
Moderate
••••••••••
Little
••••••••••
High to severe
••••••••••
Blunting effect on machining is variable
••••••••••
Blunting effect on machining is slight
••••••••••
Blunting effect on machining is moderate
Blunting effect on cutting edges is slight, but hard, dead knots may damage tool
edges
Boring
••••••••••
Fair to good results
••••••••••
Fairly easy to very easy
Cutting Resistance
••••••••••
Easy to saw
••••••••••
Rather low
Gluing
••••••••••
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
••••••••••
Fair to Good Results
••••••••••
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
••••••••••
Easy to glue
••••••••••
Moderate gluing properties
••••••••••
Glues well
Mortising
••••••••••
Fair to Good Results
••••••••••
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Moulding
••••••••••
Fair to Good Results
••••••••••
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Movement in Service
••••••••••
Excellent Stability - Small Movement
••••••••••
Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement
••••••••••
Small
••••••••••
Stable
••••••••••
Moderate stability when properly seasoned
••••••••••
Medium
••••••••••
Medium movement in use.
Nailing
••••••••••
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
••••••••••
Fair to Good Results
••••••••••
Very Good to Excellent Results
••••••••••
Holds nails well
••••••••••
Easy to nail
••••••••••
Good nailing characteristics
Planing
••••••••••
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
••••••••••
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
••••••••••
Fair to Good Results
••••••••••
Difficult to plane
Knotty wood requires sharp cutting edges for best results, because tear may
occur around knots in planing. Clear stock works easily with both hand and
machine tools in planing, turning, boring, moulding, and in most wood working
operations to produce smooth and clean surfaces
Resistance to Impregnation
••••••••••
Resistant heartwood
••••••••••
Permeable heartwood
••••••••••
Resistant sapwood
••••••••••
Permeable sapwood
••••••••••
Heartwood is resistant
••••••••••
Heartwood is permeable
••••••••••
Poor response to preservative treatment
Response to Hand Tools
•••••••••+
Easy to Work
••••••••••
Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work
••••••••••
Responds Readily
••••••••••
Easy to machine
••••••••••
Very sharp cutting edges are required to produce a smooth surface
••••••••••
Variable qualities
••••••••••
Responds well to hand tools
••••••••••
Moderate working qualities
••••••••••
Difficult to machine
Sanding
••••••••••
Fair to Good Results
••••••••••
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
••••••••••
Good sanding properties
Screwing
••••••••••
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
••••••••••
Very Good to Excellent Results
••••••••••
Fair to Good Results
••••••••••
Screwing yields good results
••••••••••
Easy to screw
Turning
••••••••••
Fair to Good Results
••••••••••
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Veneering Qualities
••••••••••
Veneers easily
••••••••••
Suitable for peeling
••••••••••
Veneers moderately easy
••••••••••
Difficult to veneer
••••••••••
No drying degrade
••••••••••
There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and
splits
••••••••••
No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting
••••••••••
Moderately easy to veneer
••••••••••
Easy to cut
Steam Bending
••••••••••
Poor to Very Poor Results
••••••••••
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
••••••••••
Very poor
Painting
••••••••••
Fair to Good Results
••••••••••
Very Good to Excellent Results
••••••••••
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
••••••••••
Good results
••••••••••
Takes paint well
••••••••••
Satisfactory results
Polishing
••••••••••
Fair to Good Results
••••••••••
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
••••••••••
Good results
Staining
••••••••••
Fair to Good Results
••••••••••
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
••••••••••
Very Good to Excellent Results
••••••••••
Finish is generally good
••••••••••
Good staining qualities
••••••••••
Finish is generally satisfactory
Varnishing
••••••••••
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
••••••••••
Fair to Good Results
••••••••••
Very Good to Excellent Results
••••••••••
Good results
••••••••••
Satisfactory
Strength Properties
•••••••••+
Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft.
••••••••••
31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
••••••••••
Low
••••••••••
Hardness (side grain) = very soft
••••••••••
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
••••••••••
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
••••••••••
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
••••••••••
Medium
••••••••••
Max. crushing strength = low
••••••••••
Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low
••••••••••
Toughness (total work) = very low
••••••••••
Small
••••••••••
Mor/Bending strength = very low
••••••••••
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low
••••••••••
Moderate
••••••••••
Max. crushing strength = very low
••••••••••
Low
••••••••••
Low
••••••••••
Low
••••••••••
Fairly large
••••••••••
15-22 lbs/cu. ft.
••••••••••
••••••••••
Trength properties are reported to vary widely and are dependent upon origin,
but the timber is comparable to Redwood (Sequoia) in most respects. It has
medium bending strength in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture
content). It is closer in strength to Mahogany than either Teak or White oak. It
is weak in compression parallel to grain (maximum crushing strength). The wood
is soft, and surfaces may dent easily. It also does not wear well, and mars
easily. Wood is low in weight, and has average, or medium, density. Wood
produced by Spruce trees from central and eastern Europe possesses exceptional
resonance qualities and is used for sound boards of pianos and bellies of
violins and guitars.
Work to Maximum Load
Numerical Data
Item Green Dry English
Bending Strength 5299 9128 psi
Density 28 lbs/ft3
Hardness 377 lbs
Impact Strength 19 17 inches
Maximum Crushing Strength 2816 5149 psi
Shearing Strength 1138 psi
Stiffness 1121 1406 1000 psi
Toughness 130 inch-lbs
Work to Maximum Load 6 9 inch-lbs/in3
Specific Gravity 0.31 0.43
Weight 25 25 lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage 2 %
Tangential Shrinkage 7 %
Item Green Dry Metric
Bending Strength 372 641 kg/cm2
Density 448 kg/cm3
Hardness 171 kg
Impact Strength 48 43 cm
Maximum Crushing Strength 197 362 kg/cm2
Shearing Strength 80 kg/cm2
Stiffness 78 98 1000 kg/cm2
Toughness 149 cm-kg
Work to Maximum Load 0.42 0.63 cm-kg/cm3
Specific Gravity 0.31 0.43
Weight 400 400 kg/cm3
Radial Shrinkage 2 %
Tangential Shrinkage 7 %
Volumetric Shrinkage 14 %
Volumetric Shrinkage 10 %
Volumetric Shrinkage 15 %
References
Bolza, E.,1976,Timber and Health,Div. Building Res. C.S.I.R.O. Australia
Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 6 Europe,TRADA, Red Booklet Series
Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard
Hill (Books) LTD. London
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
Findlay, W.P.K.,1975,Timber: Properties and Uses,Crosby Lockwood Staples
London,224PP
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.,1937,A Handbook of Home-Grown
Timbers,HMSO
Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1969,The Movement of Timbers,Forest
Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Technical Note,No.38
Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd.
London 3rd ed.
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
Jackson, A. and D. Day. 1992. Good Wood Handbook - The Wood worker's Guide to
Identifying, Selecting and Using the Right Wood. HarperCollins Publishers,
London
Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into
Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12
Lavers, G.M. 1966. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research
Bulletin, No. 50. Ministry of Technology, Her Majesty's Stationery Office,
London.
Lavers, G.M.,1983,The Strength Properties of Timber (3rd ed. revised Moore
G.L.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building
Research,Establishment Report (formerly Bulletin No.50)
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.
Mitchell, A.F. 1985. Conifers. Forestry Commision Booklet No. 15. Forestry
Commission, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London.
Nairn, P.M., Editor. 1936. Wood Specimens - 100 Reproductions in Color - A
Series of Selected Timbers Reproduced in Natural Color with Introduction and
Annotations by H.A. Cox. The Nema Press, Proprietors of Wood, London.
Patterson, D. 1988. Commercial Timbers of the World. Fifth Edition. Gower
Technical Press, Aldershot, UK. ix + 339 pp.
Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical
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
Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London
Rijsdijk, L.F. and Laming, P.B.,1994,Physical and Related Properties of 145
Timbers, Information for,Practice,TNO Building and Construction Research Centre
for Timber Research Kluwer,Academic Publishers
T.D.A.,1942,Timber Leaflet - No.48 Whitewood (Picea abies,TRADA Timber Leaflet
T.R.A.D.A.,1942,Home-grown timber trees - their characteristics, cultivation and
Uses,TRADA
Timber Development Association Ltd.,1955,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Timber
Development Association Ltd.
Titmuss, F.H. 1965. Commercial Timbers of the World. Third Edition (Enlarged of
A Concise Encyclopedia of World Timbers). The Technical Press Ltd., London.
Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London,
3rd edition
Wallis, N.K. 1956. Australian Timber Handbook. Sponsored by The Timber
Development Association of Australia. Angus & Robertson, Ltd., 89
Castlereagh Street, Sydney, Australia.
WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World
Conservation Monitoring Center - Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United
Kingdom.
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Explorer CD Main Page
Also see Eastern
White Pine and Mahogany
|
