Suppliers of Air & Kiln Dried Softwood

Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pseudotsuga taxifolia, Pseudotsuga douglasii

The heartwood is light reddish-brown in colour, usually quite distinct from the lighter coloured sapwood. The abrupt change and contrast in colour between early-wood and late-wood bands, produce a prominent growth ring figure which is a feature of plain-sawn surfaces and of rotary-cut veneer. The wood from trees grown in the UK appears to have less resin than the North American wood, and to some extent is of more rapid growth. The average weight of dried timber from either source is about 530 kg/m3.

Technical detail from TRADA

• Wood type – softwood

• Mechanical strength – suitable for structural purposes

• Durability – durable

• Treatability- difficult

• Density- 630kg/m3 at 12%

• Colour and grain – reddish brown – light brown

Cedrus Libani

Cedar of Lebanon has a medium brown heartwood, with a fairly defined grain and although the grain can be fairly straight it can also be quite knotty and as such can cause some machining issues.

It has a unique fragrance to it and is prized by furniture makes for wardrobe interiors and drawer bottoms as the scent keeps the fabric eating moth away.

Although it is not a native tree to Britain, it has been commonly planted for ornamental purposes and all our cedar is therefore sourced from British woodlands.

Technical detail from TRADA

• Wood type – softwood

• Mechanical strength – no data available, but soft and brittle, presumably with low strength

• Durability – durable

• Treatability- easy

• Density- 580kg/m3 at 12%

• Colour and grain – medium brown

DRIED Softwood Timber Products

Native Softwoods

As part of the UK tree charity Woodland Heritage, Whitney Sawmill works hard at sourcing its softwoods from sustainable UK woodlands.

This helps to promote the ongoing management of our native woodlands so that people and wildlife can enjoy them, both as forests and as products, and also helps to keep rural employment and skills alive.