Hello, I have access to Norway Spruce that was planted back in 1940's. Many local mills don't like spruce for many reasons. I feel that it is a valuable wood product. I am wondering if some one could supply me with some information on the property and uses of Norway Spruce. Thank you, Pollywogg Bill
I don't think you are going to receive much interest from big mills, you know they don't like anything out of the ordinary. You need to find a small mill with a market or find the market yourself and pay to have it cut and sell it or turn the new found market over to the sawyer and hope he continues to buy the logs.
I sell all of my spruce to one fellow here in southwest Pennsylvania and receive .20 or .25 pbf for the logs, depending on grade. He mills them himself and then turns around and builds upscale horse barns and such with the rough cut lumber. His market is small and he only buys 50 to 60 logs a year off of me, but these are logs from my tree service crew and that's about all we get in a year.
He also sells the lumber to folks building outside tool sheds and such.
The knots are the limiting factor. He usually wont cut them on the Wood Mizer as you will get waves in the cut at the knots. He prefers his circle mill.
We cut some ourselves on the Logosol and use the boards for replacements on the barn.
Norway spruce lumber is imported in the US from Sweden and sold as structural lumber like the Spruce-pine-fire (SPF) produced in the US and Canada. Who knows, you mighty have bought some without knowing it.
The Norway Spruce produced in Sweden is a good grade tree generally 75 - 100 years old. I believe that it is probably superior to Norway Spruce grown here because Scandnavia is the tree's native range.
The Norway spruce is native to Europe but has widely been planted across Michigan, mostly as an ornamental, but enjoys some popularilty as a Christmas tree. It has had some increased attention as a timber species where it may be more plentiful and demonstrates good quality.
It is the fastest growing spruce in Michigan. Bark derivitives can be used for varnish and medicinal compounds.
Its design strength values are lower than SPF. Yes European NSpruce is flooding our lumber markets here...
Sweden, Finland, Lithuania, Estonia, Germany, France, Switzerland, Romania, Ukraine
Fb ~ 725 psi, E about 1.2 million psi in #2 grade
SPF Fb 875, E 1.4
We have planted 100's of acres of it here in the Maritimes and it does very well. The wood would be similar to our native white spruce and no mill here would refuse it if it meets the mill specs. The scaler wouldn't know the difference anyway. The bark is more pitchy than our native spruce though, leaning toward fir. :)
Getting back to Don's #'s, show us the numbers for balsam fir, then Jack Pine. ;D
I think white spruce is much nicer to handle and mill than Norway.
Norway Spruce is commonly spread across our country and its timber has a wide range of uses, incl. woodworking and furniture.
So I guess.., it is a valuable wood product. ;D ;D ;)
tonich,
Isn't Norway Spruce probably one of the three most valuable timber trees in Europe?
Balsam fir and jack pine are typically graded as "eastern softwoods"
#2 Fb 575 psi, E 1.1 That's the same as eastern white pine BTW ;)
She's stamped SPF here, that's native spruces, balsam fir and jack pine. And it all grows from Newfie Land to the rockies. ;D
Sitka is separated and has different properties even when ID'ing.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11009/S-P-F.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11009/SD_grade_stamp-002.jpg)
Guess where this piece of lumber came from. ;D
It sure didn't come from the Maritimes, no MLB stamp. ;)
Quote from: WDH on March 29, 2008, 07:16:33 AM
tonich,
Isn't Norway Spruce probably one of the three most valuable timber trees in Europe?
Indeed, it is one of the three most valuable timber trees in Bulgaria.
So it should be in Europe. ::)
That piece of lumber is from Quebec province and is the Quebec forest industry council logo.
http://www.qfic.qc.ca/html/english/membres/details_reguliers.php?id=2060&idu=633
It's up on the Gaspe as you can see in the above link. Now I bought two types of lumber, one tung and groove from one hardware store, Ace Home Hardware, and another from BMR. BMR as far as I know is Barrett lumber in NS. I don't know why they truck that in here, when these stores are 10 miles from Crabbe Lumber. It sure as heck isn't cheaper lumber. ::)
Pollywoggholler, welcome to the forum. Feel free, if you have the need, to come back and discuss further.
Properties and uses of Norway spruce from a British perspective:-
Density is 390; small moisture movement; medium texture; good working qualities; non-durable; heartwood resistant to preservative treatment.
Uses include "construction (general carcassing and framing); building sheds; joinery (interior); mining timber; woodwool; fencing; boxes and crates; packaging; pallets; flooring; gates and posts; rails; pitprops; ladder poles; chip and pulp; bark products."
So yes, a fairly comprehensive, general purpose timber!
Quote from: WDH on March 29, 2008, 07:16:33 AM
tonich,
Isn't Norway Spruce probably one of the three most valuable timber trees in Europe?
WDH, although you said "probably", could you elaborate on the other two, because I may or not be inclined to disagree with you!! :D :D
I was thinking that Scots Pine and Norway Spruce have to be among the most valuable from a commercial standpoint.