Pacific Silver Fir

Abies amabilis Dougl. ex Forbes · Softwood · North America

Janka 430 lbf≈27 lb/ft³ dried (est.)

Properties

Janka hardness	430 lbf (1,913 N)
Average dried weight (est.)	27 lb/ft³ (430 kg/m³)
Specific gravity	0.43
Modulus of rupture	11,000 psi (75.8 MPa)
Modulus of elasticity	1.76 million psi (12.14 GPa)
Crushing strength	6,410 psi (44.2 MPa)
Shrinkage — radial	4.4%
Shrinkage — tangential	9.2%
Shrinkage — volumetric	13.0%
Shrinkage T/R ratio	2.1

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.

Pacific silver fir is a western true fir (specific gravity 0.43, Janka hardness 430 lbf) with the highest stiffness of the firs in this set, an elastic modulus of 1.76 million psi. Its lumber is used for building construction, boxes and crates, and general millwork.

Appearance & grain

Like grand fir and California red fir, Pacific silver fir has wood similar to the eastern true firs, light in weight and pale. The Handbook does not separate the western true firs by appearance because their woods cannot be distinguished.

Workability

The Handbook describes the western true firs as light in weight and somewhat higher in strength than balsam fir, with shrinkage from low to moderately high. Pacific silver fir's shrinkage, 13.0% volumetric, is the highest of the three western firs here.