California Red Fir

Abies magnifica A. Murr. · Softwood · North America

Janka 500 lbf≈24 lb/ft³ dried (est.)

Properties

Janka hardness	500 lbf (2,224 N)
Average dried weight (est.)	24 lb/ft³ (380 kg/m³)
Specific gravity	0.38
Modulus of rupture	10,500 psi (72.4 MPa)
Modulus of elasticity	1.50 million psi (10.34 GPa)
Crushing strength	5,460 psi (37.6 MPa)
Shrinkage — radial	4.5%
Shrinkage — tangential	7.9%
Shrinkage — volumetric	11.4%
Shrinkage T/R ratio	1.8

Values at 12% moisture content, clear-wood averages. Source: USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Wood Handbook FPL-GTR-282 (2021), Table 5–3b p. 5–12; shrinkage Table 4–3 p. 4–8.

California red fir is one of the western true firs, a light wood (specific gravity 0.38, Janka hardness 500 lbf) that the Handbook treats together with grand fir and Pacific silver fir because the species cannot be told apart by examining the wood. Its lumber goes mainly to building construction and millwork.

Appearance & grain

The western true firs have wood similar to the eastern true firs: light in weight and pale, with heartwood and sapwood not readily separated. The Handbook notes the western species run somewhat higher in strength than balsam fir.

Workability

The Handbook groups the western true firs together: the wood is light in weight, somewhat stronger than balsam fir, and its shrinkage ranges from low to moderately high. The lumber is worked mainly into construction and millwork products.