Western woods fill the bill

111l HATEVER the needs of your UU customer, they can probably be satisfied with a western wood.

The principal lumber producing states of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho and Montana grow 30 species suitable for commercial use. Some of these 20 softwoods and 10 hardwoods are better known than others, but all have marketable qualities.

Western softwoods are suitable for construction, appearance and remanufacturing lumber. Several species such as Douglas fir and lodgepole pine are good for all three uses.

Many western softwoods are grown, harvested, manufactured and marketed together as dimension lumber because of similar performance properties which make them interchangeable in use and grading. Douglas fir-larch includes both species. Hem-fir is a combination of western hemlock and true firs (noble, white, grand, Pacific silver and California red). The white woods designation includes Engelmann spruce, true firs, hemlocks and pines. ES-AF-LP includes Engelmann spruce, Alpine fir and lodgepole pine.

Western alder is the best known of the l0 western hardwoods. Some of its uses are fine furniture, cabinets, upholstered furniture frames, veneer, pallets and chips for paper products. Tan oak, California black oak, madrone, chinkapin, Oregon l,egend:

Fl,xcellent Ver-r'(iood (irnd Fair white oak and Pacific Coast maple are beginning to show commercial promise. Other western hardwoods, while not as recognizable, have good to excellent working properties and a potential for commercial use.

Relative working properties and physical properties of both western softwoods and western hardwoods rank high asthe accompanying charts illustrate. They equal or surpass woods produced elsewhere in the United States. For this reason, western woods are considered to be among the finest for construction and dimension lumber including engineered products. millwork, paneling, plywood, pallets, fencing and furniture.

Story at a Glance

How 30 western softwoods and hardwoods can meet most needs. explanation of species designations. special uses. market potential.

Some western species such as western red cedar and redwood have unique characteristics which make them suitable for special uses. Western red cedar is unequalled for shingles and shakes. The natural durability of redwood makes it an outstanding wood for decks and other outdoor uses.

Western woods also accept pressure treating well. Although they must be incised to accept preservatives, the finished product meets all requirements for durability.

Western Woods Special lssue

PhysicalProperties

Spccies Specific Avge. Shipping Wt. TrAcross Modulus of Modulus of Side Cravity kgs/cubic rneter (rn) the Grain Rupture Elasticity f-lardnes ( | 2?. MC) Air dry (irten Shrink ( K. pascals) ( l\4. prscnls) (Nelvloils) (6".1 MCI

Material .fiom Oregon State University, Colle,qe o/ Forestr1,, Deportnrenl ql l4tood Proclucts: Western Wood Produc'ts Association; Western Hardwood Association, and U.S. Forest Products Laboratory was utilized in preparing this in/brnation and cha rts-ed.