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Abies amabilis |
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Family: Pinaceae |
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Pacific Silver Fir |
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The genus Abies
(True Firs) is composed of about 40 species native to North America [9],
Central America [7], Africa [2], Europe [1] and Eurasia [25]. Abies is the
classical Latin name of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) of Europe. The word
amabilis means lovely.
Other Common Names
abete amabilis,
abeto amabilis, alpine fir, amabilis den, amabilis fir, amerikansk silver-gran,
Cascade fir, lovely silver fir, lovely fir, lovely red fir, purpur-gran,
purpurtanne, red fir, red silver fir, sapin amabilis, sapin gracieux, silver
fir, tannub el gamil, western fir, western balsam fir, white fir.
Distribution
Pacific Silver
Fir is native to the Pacific Coast region from Alaska south to western Oregon
and locally in northwestern California (Siskiyou County).
The Tree
Pacific Silver
Fir commonly grows to heights of 200 feet with a diameter of 2 feet. The record
is 245 feet tall with a diameter of 8 feet. The maximum age reported is 590
years. It grows from about sea level, in the western limits of its range, to
6,000 feet in the Cascades.
The Wood
General
The wood of
Pacific Silver Fir ranges from nearly white to reddish brown. The sapwood is
indistinguishable from the heartwood. It has a medium to coarse texture and is
generally straight grained. It is easy to work and is dimensionally stable when
dried. It is moderate to moderately low in strength, stiffness, shock
resistance and in nail withdrawal resistance. It is dries easily, but may have
problems with wetwood, a bacterial infection. It has good paint holding ability
and is easily glued. The heartwood is not durable and is considered difficult
to penetrate with preservatives.
Mechanical
Properties (2-inch standard)
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Compression |
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Specific gravity |
MOE x106 lbf/in2 |
MOR lbf/in2 |
Parallel lbf/in2 |
Perpendicular lbf/in2 |
WMLa in-lbf/in3 |
Hardness lbf |
Shear lbf/in2 |
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Green |
.40 |
1.42 |
6400 |
3140 |
220 |
6.0 |
310 |
750 |
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Dry |
.42 |
1.76 |
11000 |
6410 |
450 |
9.3 |
430 |
1220 |
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aWML = Work to maximum load.
Reference (59). |
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Drying and
Shrinkage
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Type of shrinkage |
Percentage of
shrinkage |
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0% MC |
6% MC |
20% MC |
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Tangential |
9.2 |
7.8 |
3.3 |
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Radial |
4.4 |
3.7 |
1.5 |
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Volumetric |
13.0 |
11.0 |
4.6 |
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References: 0% MC (98), |
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Kiln Drying
Schedulesa
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Stock |
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Condition |
4/4, 5/4, 6/4 |
8/4 |
10/4 |
12/4 |
16/4 |
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Standard |
T12-B5 |
T10-B3 |
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1-in. squares |
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Whiter 1-in.squares |
-- |
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2-in. squares |
T8-C4 |
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Whiter 2-in. squares |
T5-C4 |
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aReferences
(6, 86). |
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Working
Properties: Pacific Silver Fir is easy to work, is moderately low in nail
withdrawal resistance, is good in paint holding properties and is easily glued.
Durability: It
is rated as slightly or nonresistant to heartwood decay.
Preservation:
Penetration by preservatives is difficult.
Uses: Lumber,
plywood, pulp for paper, framing, sheathing, subflooring, concrete forms,
decking, planking, beams, posts, siding, paneling, millwork, prefabricated
buildings and structural members, industrial crating and shook, furniture parts,
mobile homes, fresh fruit and vegetable containers.
Toxicity: No
information available at this time.
Additional
Reading and References Cited (in parentheses)
1. Boone, R. S.;
Kozlik, C. J.; Bois, P. J., and Wengert, E. M. Dry kiln schedules for commercial
woods - temperate and tropical. Madison, WI: USDA Forest Service, FPL-GTR-57;
1988.
2. Crawford, P.
D. and Oliver, C. D. Abies amabilis Dougl. ex Forbes, Pacific Silver Fir. in:
Burns, R. M. and Honkala, B. H., tech. coords. Silvics of North America. Volume
1, Conifers. Washington, DC: USDA Forest Service; 1990; pp. 17-25.
3. Elias, T. S.
The complete trees of North America, field guide and natural history. New York,
NY: van Nostrand Reinhold Co.; 1980.
4. Henderson, F.
Y. A handbook of softwoods. London: HMSO; 1977.
5. Markstrom, D.
C. and McElderry, S. E. White Fir, An American Wood. Washington, DC: USDA
Forest Service, FS-237; 1984.
6. Markwardt, L.
J. and Wilson, T. R. C. Strength and related properties of woods grown in the
United States. Washington, DC: USGPO, USDA Forest Service, Tech. Bull. No. 479;
1935.
7. Record, S. J.
and Hess R. W. Timbers of the new world. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press;
1943.
8. Simpson, W.
T. Dry kiln operator's manual. Madison, WI: USDA Forest Service, FPL Ag.
Handbook No. 188; 1991.
9. Summitt, R.
and Sliker, A. CRC handbook of materials science. Vol. 4. Boca Raton, FL: CRC
Press, Inc.; 1980.
10. USDA. Wood
handbook: wood as an engineering material. Madison, WI: USDA Forest Service,
FPL Ag. Handbook No. 72; 1974.