PINUS SYLVESTRIS

Other names
Scots Pine

Distribution
The tree is widely distributed on the Continent and has been planted extensively in Britain for timber production.

The tree
Under favourable conditions it reaches 30m in height and 0,6-0,9m in diameter but most of the commercial timber from the forests of Northern Europe is cut from much smaller trees.

The timber
The wide geographical range of this species is reflected in the variable character of the timber, particularly the rate of growth (ring-width), the texture of the wood and the number and size of knots. In the seasoned condition the lighter-coloured sapwood is usually distinct from the pale reddish-brown resinous heartwood; the sapwood comprises a relatively large proportion of the converted timber. The annual rings are clearly marked by the contrast between the light spring wood and the darker summer wood zones. The average density of seasoned timber is about 0,48. The wood is usually straight grained except in the neighbourhood of knots, which occur at fairly regular intervals.

Strength
The strength depends largely on the incidence of knots and other natural defects which are taken into account in grading timber for constructional work. Redwood is slightly stronger than whitewood (spruce) of similar grade and less strong than Douglas fir, pitch pine and larch.

Durability and preservative treatment
Redwood is classed as non-durable. The heartwood is moderately resistant to preservative treatment; the sapwood is permeable. Untreated sapwood is susceptible to attack by the common furniture beetle.

Working qualities
In general the timber works easily in all hand and machine operations. Clear, narrow-ringed material showing more than 5 rings to the centimeter, as used for joinery, takes a good clean finish from the tool. Where the rings are appreciably wider, however, there is a tendency for the soft spring wood to tear up, especially if the cutters are dull. Redwood takes nails well, and with the exception of the occasional resinous piece, can be stained and glued effectively and gives good results with paint, varnish and polish.

Uses
Being comparatively cheap, easily worked and available in a wide range of sizes, redwood is the principal material used in Northern Europe for carpentry and joinery, boxes and packing cases and many other general purposes. In the round it is the standard timber fro transmission poles and pit props. It is pupled for kraft paper.