Sitka Spruce Lumber

Bv R. D. Brown \West Coost Lumbermen's Association

The unusual characteristics of Sitka spruce enable it to rneet the requirements of a wide variety of items-from box lumLrer to piano sounding boards, from general construction lumber, including bevel and bungalow siding, to the finest of clears used by cabinet makers and airplane and ladder manufacturers. It is truly an exceptional wood. Extremely resilient, it has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any wood in the world.

This wood grows only on the North Pacific Coast. The color of the heartwood, which blends gradually into the narrow creamy sapwood, varies from white or light pinkish yellow to pale brown. When planed, the surface of the wood shows a silky sheen. Sitka spruce is tough, even-grained and soft-textured. It is easily worked and has little tendency to split or splinter. It dries easily, stays in place well, and shrinks only moderately. It is odorless and tasteless.

Of .the rr'any purposes for which Sitka spruce lumber is used throughout the world, the most widely known are aircraft construction and ladder stock. It is perfectly suited to these uses-as well as to the fabrication of huge wind-tunnel propellers-because of its resilience, ratio of high strength for weight, and shock-absorbing qualities.

This species has so distinguished itself in the specialty field that its sound value as construction lumber is sometimes overlooked. It has rendered worthy service as a home-building material for many years, being well manufactured, bright in appearance, and light in color. It has the additional characteristic of lying straight when piled.

Sitka spruce lumber is available in the standard grades as boards for use as subfloors, sheathing, rooT boards, concrete forms and similar construction. In dimension sizes it may be used for heavy roof sheathing, joists and rafters, studding, plates and other construction members. It offers exceptional beauty, also, as interior finish and trim.

Since Sitka spruce combines light weight, strength, and freedom from warping and cupping under severe use conditions it is highly favored for uses in which special requirements are a consideration. Among these are hatch covers for vessels, and scaffold plank. The former item makes stern demands on the material sin,ce these pieces must undergo repeated removal and replacement in addition to supporting the weight of the cargo loaded over the hatch. Scaffold plank is entrusted with the lives of workmen; any material so used must have inherent qualities which will instill complete confidence. Lumber which competently meets these needs is, as a matter of course, sought after for other exacting uses.

Sitka spruce is popular as bevel and bungalow siding. Highly important for this purpose is its high percentage of heartwood. When properly seasoned, Sitka spruce siding does not warp or twist. Its soft, even-grained texture permits nailing without splitting, and it holds paint well, largely because of its non-pitchy character.

Its soft, uniform texture plus its affinity for glue and paint also makes Sitka spruce shop lumber an ideal material for doors. It is, in addition, extensively employed by furniture manufacturers for cabinets and Tor both unpainted and finished furniture. Because of its non-pitchy, odorless and tasteless qualities it is prime material for refrigerators, cold storage lockers, butter tubs and other food containers.

This lumber has found wide acceptance as material for slats and rails in Venetian blind manufacture because ot its light weight, ability to stay straight, ease of painting and lacquering, lack of resins to bleed through the finish, and resistance to splitting and checking.

In the ladder industry the word spruce is always associated with quality ladders. Again the combination oI light weight with strength, resilience, ability to stay straight and resistance to splitting uniquely adapt Sitka spruce for this purpose. Its light weight is a particular asset in ladders which are moved by hand.

Because it weathers well and evenly, is free from pitch, and does not sliver or splinter easily, this species is one of the most desirable woods for portable bleachers and gymnasium seats. It is also the choice of boat builders-not only as .body material but especially for masts, spars and oars. Its lightness and strength have made it favored for racing oars and canoe paddles.

Sitka spruce has long been known among lumbermen as a prelerred "shop-type" lumber. Even-grained and softtextured, Sitka spruce shop is supplied in either flat or edge grain.

Factories manufacturing overhead-type garage, warehouse and fire doors are large users of this lumber. The qualities which give it special merit for this use are its light weight combined with adequate strength, its absence of oils or resins, and the inherent toughness of the wood which enables a Sitka spruce door to withstand sharp jolts and impacts without splitting or splintering.

Few other woods compare with Sitka spruce as a material for boxes, crates and all types of containers. An ideal box and container material should have light weight combined with toughness, ability to hold nails firmly, a minimum tendency to split, light color and lack of odor or taste. These vital requirements are joined in Sitka spruce.

Hyster Promotion

J. W. Morgan has been advanced to the position of assistant sales manager of the Hyster Company's eastern sales division, and will be located at the Peoria, Ill. plant, it was announced by Philip Hill, general sales manager at Portand, Ore.