World of Wood

The Wonderful World of Wood:

Sitka Spruce:

• "Picea sitchensis"

Other Names:

• Silver spruce.

Sources:

• Canada, USA, UK.

Tree Characteristics:

• A magnificent and important timber producing tree that is fast growing and widely cultivated in forests.
• It reaches a height of up to 290ft, with a buttressed trunk of up to 19ft in diameter.
• However, forest grown trees are generally of a smaller size.

Characteristics of the wood:

• A non resinous, non tainting creamy white wood, with slighty pink heartwood.
• Usually straight grained with even texture, depending on the rate of growth.
• It is relatively light and strong, with good elasticity, and can be steam bent.
• It was used in the construction of the World WarII "Mosquito" aircraft.

Workability:

• Easy to work with hand and machine tools.
• It requires sharp cutting edges to avoid tearing the bands of earlywood on fast grown species.

Average dried weight:

• 28lb/cuft.

Finishing:

• It stains well, and can be finished satisfactorily with paint and varnish.

Common uses:

• Boatbuilding,
• Interior joinery,
• Building construction,
• Musical instruments,
• Gliders,
• Oars,
• Racing sculls,
• Plywood.