- NAME/S
- Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii).
- SUB NAMES/S
- British Columbia Pine, Columbian Pine, Oregon Pine.
- TRADE NAME/S
- No other names are in use.
- APPEARANCE
- Old trees yield a yellow/brown timber whilst that from younger trees is redder and has wider growth rings. The growth rings are prominent and the latewood is darker and harder. Figure is very pronounced in fiat sawn or crown cut material whilst the quarter sawn appearance is finely striped. An important quality possessed by this softwood is that a proportion is free of knots though this fetches premium prices.
- ORIGIN
- Northwest USA, western Canada.
- MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
- Density is 530kg/m3 and the material is strong for its weight. It is moderately durable for exterior use.
- AVAILABILITY
- The solid material is available as square-edged boards 25-100mm thick, up to 300mm wide and 4.8m. in length.Veneer is available usually quarter cut.
- USE AS TIMBER CUTSFEATURES
- Douglas Fir, owing to its availability in knot-free classification, is a useful softwood for use in joinery when a natural clear finish is required in conjunction with fir or pine veneers.It is durable in interior conditions and is very suitable for interior joinery.It is not practicable to achieve quarter cut appearance on all faces of solid components, so some juxtaposition of quarter and crown will be apparent. This may be an important consideration when the solid is to be used in conjunction with quarter cut veneer.
- USE AS VENEER CUTS APPEARANCES
- Architectural grade veneer sliced from Douglas Fir is usually described as Oregon Pine. This is usually quarter cut. Veneers are normally taken from selected, large, old logs that contain narrow growth rings. The veneer is generally straight grained. It is fairly soft and will become indented and marked by abusive treatment.
- RELATIVE COST/of 10
- 3
- PROPERTIES-MACHINING, FINISHING, JOINTING
- Douglas Fir is fairly difficult to finish due to the difference in hardness within the growth rings. There is a tendency for the softer material to be compressed or pulled out during machining and sanding operations which can cause an uneven surface. For this reason quarter sliced veneer will usually finish better. Sound knots when present tend to split while dead knots will usually loosen.The material takes stain and polishes. Care is needed when applying stain as this will be absorbed more densely in the soft tissue.
- SEASONING
- The timber seasons easily and is stable when fully dried.
