If you intend to use Spruce wood in your woodworking project, you will do a bit of research about it. You will ask if it is hardwood or softwood. You will also figure out whether it is ideal for your project by learning the pros and cons of its use. In this post, you will learn more about Spruce and the different FAQs about this wood.
Spruce Wood’s Characteristics & Properties
If you don’t know whether Spruce is hardwood, it will be good to note that it is not hardwood. It gets classified as softwood with a Janka Hardness rating of 510 lbf (pound-force). This hardness rating is a bit lower compared to other wood types. Despite being a softwood, it exhibits superior strength relative to its weight ratio.
Botanists and horticulturists classify wood types according to their seeds. Spruce, for example, is a gymnosperm, meaning it produces exposed seeds and distinct vascular structures that let it grow faster, resulting in the less dense structure of cells.
Spruce wood is lightweight. It is also rot-resistant and very stable. Besides, it is affordable. As lumber, it is a convenient and versatile building material you can use for various applications. Plus, it is easy to work with.
Spruce is comparable to pine wood regarding hardness and density. So, you can use it if you don’t want to use pine. Nevertheless, Spruce, like pine, is susceptible to denting and scratches because it is softwood.
Spruce, as a tree, can grow up to 300 feet, and its growth rate is up to 12 inches per year. The tallest Spruce species is the Sitka Spruce which can grow up to 300 feet.
Appearance of Spruce
You may recognize a newly cut Spruce wood by its biting resinous smell. It exhibits a uniform brightness ranging from a yellowish-white to almost-white color. It darkens soon upon exposure to light resulting in a brownish-yellow tone.
You will notice, too, that its annual rings range from narrow to clearly visible wide rings. It also exhibits evident striations in its longitudinal section.
You can also view the cracks and resin channels in Spruce wood. Moreover, once you start planing this wood, it shows a dull sheen. You will not find any remarkable difference between its heartwood and sapwood.
How Hard Can Spruce Wood Be?
As mentioned above, Spruce is a softwood. Thus, it is softer than any hardwood out there. It is also softer than many softwoods. Its Janka Hardness rating of 510 lbf indicates that it is not harder than many wood types.
Spruce, of course, has many species, but its different species also have almost similar properties and hardness. Sitka, for example, which grows the tallest, has a Janka Hardness rating of 510 lbf, while White Spruce has 480 lbf. On the other hand, Black Spruce is rated at 520 lbf, while Red Spruce is at 490 lbf.
If you take note of the names of Spruce species, you will notice that spruce wood comes in different tones or colors. Nevertheless, their hardness is almost within the same range. Hence. All species of Spruce are softwood.
If you would look at Spruce’s fiber structure, you will notice that it lacks pores. Besides, you will see small resin canals in the wood. The pore structure of Spruce is closed, but those resin canals within the wood heal any damage or wound in the wood.
After cutting the Spruce, the resin canals begin to stiffen the wood. These hardened canals are lightweight and stiff, providing the Spruce wood with a good density even if it is softwood. Moreover, it also provides Spruce a superior quality. Spruce’s density is about 400 kilograms per cubic meter.
Is Spruce Strong?
The wood of Spruce exhibits an excellent strength-weight ratio. Its bending and compressive strengths are remarkable. This fact is due to the straight grain structure of this wood that enhances its strength. Because of this excellent ratio between its strength and weight, Spruce gets often used in making musical instruments.
The compressive strength of this wood is 5,610 psi, and its bending strength is 10,200 psi. So, if you look at these data, you will notice that they are almost the same level. Spruce is a popular wood choice because of its excellent flexibility and strength.
Uses & Applications of Spruce
- When making furniture, you need wood that would last long and is easy to work with. Spruce is a good choice of wood for furniture making. It has excellent characteristics that make it a favorite among furniture makers. However, it is generally used for indoor furniture because it is vulnerable to cracking, rotting, splitting, and moisture damage.
- You can also use Spruce in construction because of its compressive and bending strengths. It is bendable, and you can easily craft it into your desired shapes. Besides, it is reasonably priced and readily available.
- Spruce is also often utilized in the manufacturing of musical instruments. It is an excellent choice for making guitar tops, violin tops, and soundboards of pianos.
- You will also see crates and boxes made of Spruce. These boxes and crates get often utilized for carrying heavy goods.
- Spruce gets also used in aircraft and boats. Of course, you may say Spruce is not sufficiently hard to use in airplanes and boats. Yet, it is durable enough for boats and aircraft if you provide additional treatment to make it more durable and impervious to water and moisture.
- Lastly, manufacturers of paper use Spruce for paper production. Its long fibers make it ideal for making paper, and this feature is an essential metric in choosing wood for paper manufacturing.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for the Spruce species best for its stiffness-to-weight ratio, you should check out Sitka Spruce. Spruce, of course, is best when it comes to compressive and bending strength. It also has an excellent strength-to-weight ratio, making it perfect for musical instruments.
Spruce naturally is not as durable and long-lasting as teak or Acacia. But if you provide additional treatment, you can enhance its durability and strength.
Spruce, in my experience, is easy to work with and has long, clear runs with remarkable mechanical properties. It also glues well. Of course, there are other types of wood that you can use for your woodworking projects. But if you are considering Spruce for your woodworking projects, reading through this post might help you decide whether Spruce wood would satisfy your woodworking needs.