
Appearance
COLOR: Heartwood varies from light yellow/orange to reddish brown or
yellowish brown; sapwood is light tan to yellowish white.
GRAIN: Closed, with high figuring; patterns range from clear to knotty.
VARIATIONS WITHIN SPECIES AND GRADES: Longleaf pine (P. palustris),
shortleaf pine (P. echinata), loblolly pine (P. taeda), slash pine (P. elliottii). All
have many of the same characteristics as Douglas fir. Old-growth lumber in these varieties
has substantially higher density
and is more stable than second-growth material.
Properties
HARDNESS (JANKA): Loblolly and shortleaf
690, 47% softer than Northern red oak; longleaf 870, 33% softer than N. red oak.
DIMENSIONAL STABILITY: Above average (change coefficient .00265; 28% more
stable than red oak).
DURABILITY: Soft, fairly durable, although not as resistant to scuffs,
dents and abrasions as the hardwoods. Often used for flooring, but may not be suitable for
all applications due to its softness. |
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Workability
SAWING/MACHINING: Good machining qualities.
SANDING: Resin in wood tends to clogs abrasives; frequent sandpaper
changes are required.
NAILING: Good holding ability and resistance to splitting.
FINISHING: A durable finish can help minimize wear. COMMENTS: Generally
manufactured for flooring
with no end-match; sometimes flooring is "distressed" to create an antique look.
Cost
(relative to plainsawn select red oak)
MULTIPLIER: 0.95
Availability
Commodity item, available as unfinished strip and
plank flooring in a variety of widths and thicknesses through specialty wood flooring
dealers and some lumberyards. |