 Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens)
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Common Name(s): Redwood, Sequoia, Coast Redwood, California Redwood Scientific Name: Sequoia sempervirens Distribution: Coastal northwestern United States (from southwestern Oregon to central California) Tree Size: 200-300 ft (60-90 m) tall, 6-12 ft (1.8-3.7 m) trunk diameter Average Dried Weight: 27 lbs/ft3 (435 kg/m3) Hardness: 450 lbf (2,000 N) Bending Strength: 8,950 lbf/in2 (61,720 kPa) Elasticity: 1,220,000 lbf/in2 (8,410 MPa) Shrinkage: Radial: 2.4%, Tangential: 4.7%, Volumetric: 6.9%, T/R Ratio: 2.0 |
Color/Appearance: Heartwood color can range from a light pinkish brown to a deep reddish brown. Sapwood is a pale white/yellow.
Grain/Pore: Redwood has closed pores and a medium texture. The grain is typically straight, but may occasionally be wavy or irregular. Figure such as curly grain and/or burl clusters are occasionally seen.
Durability: Rated as moderately durable to very durable regarding decay resistance. Lumber from old-growth trees tends to be more durable than that from younger second-growth trees.
Workability: Typically easy to work with hand tools or machinery, but planer tearout can occur on figured pieces with curly, wavy, or irregular grain. Glues and finishes well.
Smell: Redwood has a distinct odor when being worked.
Safety: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Redwood has been reported as a sensitizer. Usually most common reactions simply include eye, skin, and/or respiratory irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.
Price Range: Should be moderately priced as a construction lumber, though clear and/or figured woodworking lumber is likely to be much more expensive.
Comments: Capable of attaining heights of nearly 400 feet, Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) is the world’s tallest tree species. It grows in a very limited area on the Pacific coast of northwestern United States, where heavy rainfall and cool, damp air create a unique environment for these trees. Redwood’s status is currently listed as vulnerable, but not endangered.
Redwood lumber is very soft and lightweight, with a decent strength-to-weight ratio. It is also exceptionally stable, with very little shrinkage or seasonal movement.
The mechanical values listed at the top of the page represent the averages between both old-growth lumber and second-growth lumber. On the whole, old-growth lumber tends to be slightly heavier (29 lbs/ft3 versus 26), harder (480 lbf Janka hardness versus 420), and stronger (10,000 lbf/in2 modulus of rupture versus 7,900) than younger second-growth lumber.
Some common uses for Redwood include: veneer, construction lumber, beams, posts, decking, exterior furniture, and trim. Burls and other forms of figured Redwood are also used in turning, musical instruments, and other small specialty items.
None available.
Scans/Pictures: As you can see from the scans below, Redwood darkens significantly upon application of a finish.
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Redwood (sanded) |
 Redwood (sealed) |
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