EASTERN WHITE PINE HARDWOOD IDENTIFICATION GUIDE

EASTERN WHITE PINE HARDWOOD IDENTIFICATION GUIDE

An In-Depth Look at Eastern White Pine's Characteristics, Color, Grain & More

Eastern White Pine

OTHER COMMON NAMES

Eastern White Pine is sometimes referred to as cork pine, weymouth pine, pumpkin pine, yellow pine, and soft pine. [4]

LATIN NAME

Eastern White Pine’s scientific name is Pinus strobus. It has deciduous needles that collect together in bundles. [5]

CHARACTERISTICS - EASTERN WHITE PINE

The Eastern White Pine wood has an even, medium texture. Its straight grain matches the uniform texture. [1]

The white pine heartwood can appear in a range of colors, including light brown with a reddish hue. Some pieces have a knotty appearance that incorporates many colors. Its sapwood has a pale yellow or white color. As the wood ages, its color darkens. [2]


MAIN USES - EASTERN WHITE PINE

Eastern White Pine is one of the most commonly used species for construction lumber in the northeast United States. White pine trees’ tall, straight trunks, they were the chosen wood for ship masts. Today, it is mostly used for crates, boxes, interior millwork, furniture, cabinetry, construction lumber, carving, and boatbuilding. [1]

Eastern White Pine is often chosen for aesthetic reasons, elevating any room. This wood makes great accent features, like rustic moldings or can upgrade the look to your interior wall as paneling.

MOULDINGS
FURNITURE
CABINETRY
DIMENSIONAL LUMBER
BOAT BUILDING

MILLING - EASTERN WHITE PINE

White pine is known for its easy ability to glue with uniform (not excessive) pressure. Typically, any common wood adhesive will work. Additionally, it has a good nail-holding ability. It is not known to have a problem with shrinkage, usually only about four percent or less. [2] It dries quickly and maintains a minimal risk of warping unless the area contains compression wood.

However, closely monitor the drying process to avoid unwanted discoloration. When drying is too slow, the wood will turn a dark brown color and can create the look of coffee stains. If the wood is kiln-dried, begin this process immediately after sawing to avoid staining. [2]


HARDWOOD PROPERTIES - EASTERN WHITE PINE

White pinewood is known for its great workability with both hand and machine tools. It is ideal for woodworking projects as it also glues, finishes, and holds nails well. However, its resin produces a faint odor while it is worked on. Tools must be sharp when using a machine. Dull blades or excessive pressure can cause raised grains. Some people have reported allergic reactions caused by working with pine, but this is uncommon. [4]

Eastern White Pine is a weaker native softwood and therefore has great bending properties. It has a MOR (bending strength) of about 86000 psi and a MOE (stiffness) of 1.2 million psi. [2]

Janka Hardness Scale


ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE - EASTERN WHITE PINE

The Pinus genus has 100 different species found in both temperate and tropical regions around the world. Eastern White Pine trees are typically located in northeastern North America. The Eastern White Pine tree is no longer a dominant tree in most forests. But today, its popularity is increasing once again, allowing some to grow to a great size. Half of white pine lumber comes from New England with the other half from the Great Lakes, Middle Atlantic, and Southern Atlantic states. [4]

Historically, these trees were cut down and used as ship masts because of their height. On average, they grow 50 to 80 feet tall [3] (although some have grown to 100-200 feet) with a diameter of three to six feet. They are naturally found in high, dry locations and can grow in a wide range of soil conditions. White pine trees grow faster in cool, humid climates with full sun exposure. Eastern White Pine trees are a popular choice in the winter for natural Christmas trees. [5]

Volume of live trees on forest land, 1000 m3

All data derives from Forest Inventory Data Online (FIDO), a component of the U.S. Forest Service Inventory and Analysis Program (FIA). Data was compiled by AHEC in January 2016 using the most recent state inventory available (2014 for most states). "Forest volume" refers to "net volume of live trees on forest land," as defined by FIA (see glossary). FIA forest volume data is available for 49 U.S. states (Hawaii and Washington D.C. are omitted) with total hardwood forest volume of 18.1 billion m3 of which 13.5 billion m3are commercially significant.


EASTERN WHITE PINE PRODUCTS AT BAIRD BROTHERS

Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods is happy to assist with any questions you have regarding Eastern White Pine Wood products. Eastern White Pinewood Products at Baird Brothers include Casings, Baseboards, Crown Moldings, Chair Rails, Bar Rail Molding, Picture Frame Moulding, Window Stools, Sills, Mullions Door Jambs & Stops, Thresholds, Accessory Moldings, Shiplap Interior Wall Paneling & Planks, Wainscot Paneling, Lumber, Plywood and more!

 

Please call 1-800-732-1697 or Contact Us if you need help with our extensive inventory.


COMPARISON TO OTHER WOOD SPECIES

Source: The Department of Agriculture's Wood Handbook

LumberSpecific GravityJanka HardnessModulus of Elasticity (MPa)Impact Bending (mm)Grain
African Mahogany --- 830 lb 9,700 --- Medium/Coarse
Alder 0.41 590 lb 9,500 510 Fine
Ash 0.6 1,320 lb 12,000 1,090 Fine
Basswood 0.37 410 lb 10,100 410 Fine
Beech 0.64 1,300 lb 11,900 1,040 Fine/Medium
Birch, Yellow 0.62 1,260 lb 13,900 1,400 Fine
Cedar, Western Red 0.32 350 lb 7,700 430 Fine
Cherry, Brazilian 0.91 2,350 lb 22,510 --- Medium
Cherry 0.5 950 lb 10,300 740 Fine
Cypress 0.51 510 lb 6,300 --- Medium
Douglas Fir 0.48 710 lb 12,300 660 Medium/Coarse
Hemlock 0.4 540 lb 8,300 530 Coarse
Hickory 0.66 1,820 lb 11,900 1,120 Medium
Maple, Hard 0.63 1,450 lb 12,600 990 Fine
Maple, Soft 0.47 700 lb 7,900 640 Fine
Oak, Red 0.63 1,290 lb 12,500 1,090 Coarse
Oak, White 0.68 1,360 lb 12,300 940 Coarse
Pine, Eastern White 0.35 380 lb 8,500 460 Medium
Pine, Ponderosa 0.4 460 lb 8,900 480 Medium
Pine, Yellow (Shortleaf) 0.51 690 lb 12,100 840 Fine/Medium
Poplar 0.42 540 lb 10,900 610 Medium
Sapele 0.67 1,410 lb 15,930 --- Fine
Teak 0.66 1,070 lb 10,700 --- Coarse
Walnut (Black) 0.55 1,010 lb 11,600 860 Medium

*Data is based on a moisture content of 12%.

GLOSSARY

Impact Bending — In the impact bending test, a hammer of given weight is dropped upon a beam from successively increased heights until rupture occurs or the beam deflects 152 mm (6 in.) or more. The height of the maximum drop, or the drop that causes failure, is a comparative value that represents the ability of wood to absorb s hocks that cause stresses beyond the proportional limit.

Janka Hardness — Defined as resistance to indentation using a modified Janka hardness test, measured by the load required to embed a 11.28-mm (0.444-in) ball to one-half its diameter. Values presented are the average of radial and tangential penetrations.

Modulus of Elasticity — Elasticity implies that deformations produced by low stress are completely recoverable after loads are removed. When loaded to higher stress levels, plastic deformation or failure occurs.

Specific Gravity - A measure of the ratio of a wood's density as compared to water. If a wood species had the same density as water, the specific gravity would be 1.00.


SOURCES

  1. “Eastern White Pine”. The Wood Database. Wood-database.com Accessed Aug. 2021.
  2. "Wood Working - Eastern White Pine". Woodworking Network. Woodworkingnetwork.com
  3. “Pinus strobus”. North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Plants.ces.ncsu.edu
  4. “Pinus strobus Fact Sheet”. Center for Wood Anatomy Research. Fpl.fs.fed.us
  5. "Pinus strobus - Wiki". Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinus_strobus