Eastern white pine is one of the most sought-after soft pine for general carpentry and carving. Eastern white, sugar pine, and western white make up three of the primary pine for woodworking.
Common Names: Eastern white pine, North American white pine, Northern white pine, soft pine, white pine
Short Description: A good value timber with straight-grain wood and medium fine texture. The end grain has large resin canals that are numerous but primarily solitary. The distinctive grain stands out when painted with translucent stain but does well with solid paint.
Country of Origin: Eastern North United States, Central and Eastern Canada
Color: light brown heartwood with a slightly reddish and pumpkin-colored hue; pale yellow to almost white sapwood color
Janka Hardness Scale: 380 lbf (1,690 N)
Dried Average Weight: 25 lbs/ft³ (400 kg/m³)
Common Uses: general carpentry and construction, interior millwork, crates, boxes, boatbuilding, furniture, homes
What Is Pine Wood?
Pine wood is a medium-fine textured softwood widely used in architectural paneling. The wood is strong but light and pliable, making it a good option even for carving. Antique collectors and many homeowners prefer it. White pine also exudes a faint, resinous scent when it is being worked.
One of the advantages of pine is its good elasticity and low shrinkage and swelling. The wood does not need reinforcement when working. White pine’s heartwood color darkens over time regardless of the clear film finish applied to it. That is why many woodworkers choose to leave them unfinished, especially when working with pine live edge slabs for rustic projects.
Where Does Pine Wood Come From?
White pine (Pinus strobus) is just one of the primary species of conifer sourced for its soft wood. It is one of the largest conifers in the northeast that can grow up to 100 ft tall and 3 to 4 ft in diameter. White pine was once heavily harvested, but they are an aggressive grower that reproduces and thrives in its original habitat.
There are roughly 100 pine species used in the timber industry with different ranges of strength properties. For many years, pine was valued as the most important timber because of its abundance. White pine was crucial in the mast trade, where its straight trunk was used as ship masts and spars.
Where Does Pine Tree Grow?
White pine is an evergreen gymnosperm distributed mainly in the central and eastern parts of North America. Its species is also native to central and eastern Canada from Manitoba to Newfoundland. They are grown in plantations throughout their natural range.
Is Pine a Hardwood or Softwood?
As a gymnosperm, pine trees are classified as softwood as all the other conifers like spruce and cedar. Pines are also divided into two distinct groups: soft pine and hard pine. White pines, either western or eastern, and sugar pines are soft pines. They tend to have low density, even grain and texture, and gradual earlywood to latewood transition.
Hard pines are harder and denser than soft pines with uneven grains. Some examples of hard pines are the southern yellow, western yellow, red pines, and pinyon pines.
How Dense Is Pine Wood?
Eastern white pine is lightweight, with a density of around 23 pounds per cubic foot (8% M.C.). Most pines retain moisture and need to be dried thoroughly before use. But pine is quick-drying and has little risk of warping, which makes them desirable for woodworking.
What To Look For When Purchasing Pine?
If you want a modern and classic finish, choose slabs with at least uniform colors and lesser knots. But knotty pine live edge slabs are fine if you want a rustic look since they create more visual appeal.
Pine’s surface may be prone to scratching and damage, and its small pin knots can bleed. However, it is easily remedied by a good sealing agent like shellac before finishing it.
FAQs
What is the best use for pine live edge slabs?
Live edge lumber can be burl round, tree round, or tree slabs with different uses. Pine live edge slabs are long slices of a log cut along the length of the tree. These are ideal for furniture that requires length, such as dining tables, benches, countertops, or headboards. When re-sawn, pine slabs can be used for various other wood projects.
How to care for pine furniture?
Pine is not particularly fond of acidic cleaning agents as it is prone to discoloration. Regular cleaning with a good wood soap can remove most dust and grimes. Coat the pine furniture with clear paste wax when finishing to avoid tedious cleaning and maintenance.
Can pine furniture go outside?
Pine is only moderately rot-resistant but can make a good choice for outdoor construction projects when adequately treated. Since it is not as strong as hardwood, treatment is necessary if the furniture is to stay outside, whether painting, sealing, or staining, to prevent them from getting saturated with water. That said, untreated pine furniture cannot remain outside as they wither with the elements and are vulnerable to bug infestations.
Where to Buy Pine Wood
Eastern white pine is common and abundant in its growing range. They are often cultivated in plantations for timber or as live Christmas trees. You may be able to find a pine live edge slab anywhere, but you might be taking a risk with quality.
To ensure optimum quality and sufficiently dried pine, get them only from trusted specialty lumber dealers.
Alderfer Lumber Company Inc offers a variety of pine slabs in different dimensions for many woodworking needs. These are high-quality, seasoned, kiln-dried, and planed on both sides. We also offer an array of specialty and exotic timber and lumber.
Check our inventory for what you need. If you can’t find what you are looking for, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. Our inventory updates daily, and the quick turnover may deplete what you see on our website. We will be more than happy to sort our inventory for the timber and cut that your project requires.
