White Spruce

White Spruce (P. sitchensis pictured)

Common Name(s): White Spruce

Scientific Name: Picea glauca

Distribution: Northern North America

Tree Size: 110 ft (34 m) tall, 2-3 ft (.6-1.0 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 27 lbs/ft³ (430 kg/m³)

Basic Specific Gravity: .33

Hardness: 480 lb_f (2,140 N)

Bending Strength: 9,400 lb_f/in² (64,830 kPa)

Elasticity: 1,430,000 lb_f/in² (9,860 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 4.7%, Tangential: 8.2%, Volumetric: 13.7%, T/R Ratio: 1.7

Color/Appearance: White Spruce is typically a creamy white, with a hint of yellow.

Grain/Pore: White Spruce has a fine, even texture, and a consistently straight grain.

Durability: Heartwood is rated as being slightly resistant to non-resistant to decay.

Workability: Easy to work, as long as there are no knots present. Glues and finishes well, though it can give poor (blotchy and inconsistent) results when being stained due to its closed pore structure. A sanding sealer, gel stain, or toner is recommended when coloring Spruce.

Smell: There is no characteristic odor associated with this wood species.

Safety: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Spruce in the Picea genus has been reported as a sensitizer. Usually most common reactions simply include skin irritation and/or respiratory disorders. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Price Range: Construction grade spruce is cheap and easy to find. However, quartersawn clear pieces—free from knots—can be more expensive. White Spruce is occasionally used for piano soundboards, requiring clear quartersawn pieces.

Comments: Common uses for White Spruce include: pulpwood, papermaking, construction lumber, millwork, and crates.

Related Species:

Black Spruce (Picea mariana)

Engelmann Spruce (Picea engelmannii)

Norway Spruce (Picea abies)

Red Spruce (Picea rubens)

Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis)

Scans/Pictures: There are currently no pictures of this exact wood species, but a similar species within the Picea genus is being substituted (P. sitchensis). If you’d like to contribute a wood sample of this specific species to be scanned, (even small pieces of veneer can be sent), please use the contact form.

Sitka Spruce (sanded)