Name Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea)
Type Softwood.
Other Names Also known as fir, Canadian fir, eastern fir, and bracted balsam fir.
Sources Grows in eastern half of United States and Canada.
Appearance Straight and even grained with a medium to fine texture. Creamy white to pale brown color, heartwood indistinguishable from sapwood.
Physical Props Light and soft with low strength, shock resistance, and decay resistance.
Working Props Works fairly easily with hand or machine tools. Glues, screws, nails, stains, paints, and varnishes well.
Uses Used primarily for general construction, as well as boxes, crates, sash, doors, trim, plywood, and pulpwood.

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Name White Fir (Abies concolor)
Type Softwood.
Other Names Also known as western fir, concolor fir, Colorado fir, silver fir, white fir, lows fir, and white balsam.
Sources One of six commercial species of fir grown in western United States. Others are Subalpine fir, California red fir, grand fir, noble fir, and Pacific silver fir.
Appearance Generally straight and quite even grained with medium to coarse texture. Whitish to yellowish brown heartwood, indistinguishable from sapwood.
Physical Props Light, soft, moderately stiff, low strength, low shock resistance, and low decay resistance.
Working Props Works satisfactorily with hand or machine tools. Turns easily. Exceptional gluing, nailing, and screwing properties. Stains, paints, and varnishes well.
Uses Used primarily for general construction, as well as boxes, crates, sash, doors, trim, plywood, and pulpwood.

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Name Freijo (Cordia goeldiana)
Type Hardwood.
Other Names Also known as South American walnut, frei jorge, jenny wood, and cordia wood.
Sources Grows in South America.
Appearance Generally straight grained with a uniform, coarse texture and rich, golden luster. Heartwood is golden brown maturing to dark brown and not well demarcated from sapwood.
Physical Props Resembles teak in appearance and strength properties. Moderately hard and heavy, brittle, low stiffness and shock resistance, medium bending and crushing strengths, poor steam bending rating, and good stability in use. Heartwood is resistant to white or brown-rot fungi.
Working Props Works easily enough but sharp edges critical to avoid grain-tearing. Pre-drilling required for screwing or nailing. Glues, stains, and polishes well - grain filling often required. Not a good turnery wood.
Uses Used mainly for cabinetry, furniture, interior joinery, and paneling. Also used as a substitute for teak in ship building. Other uses include wine casks, barrels, flooring, and decorative veneers.

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