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| Home Painting Skills and Basics Paperhanging Home Decorating Interior Decorating Wood Identification |
Douglas FirDouglas fir, also known as Columbian and Oregon pine though botanically not a pine, is one of the world's  outstanding softwoods. It is obtained in British Columbia and on the Pacific coast of the United States from a magnificent tree, commonly 40 to 60m high and exceptionally up to 90m, with a long straight bole I to 2m and sometimes more in diameter. It has been introduced and is grown as a plantation tree in many temperate countries, including Britain. Douglas fir is a pale to medium redbrown, with a conspicuous growth-ring figure, particularly on flat-sawn or rotary-cut surfaces. Typically it is straight-grained, often somewhat resinous and of medium weight for a softwood, marginally heavier than European redwood. Douglas fir dries quickly and well, is noted for its strength, and works readily with hand and machine tools. It is moderately resistant to decay. Douglas fir is the leading structural wood of western North America. It is available in very large sizes, though these are becoming more difficult to obtain, and is used as baulks in piling and for pier, dock and harbour work. It is used in building for roof trusses and laminated beams, and in joinery. It is an important wood for railway sleepers and for chemical vats and tanks; it is used for flooring and decking, but should be quarter-sawn to minimize splintering. It is the world's most important source of plywood, used mainly for structural purposes. Extract from 'The International book of WOOD' curtesy Michael Beazley Publishers Limited 1979. |
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