Abies balsamea (Balsam fir)

Scientific Name
Abies balsamea

Trade Name
Balsam fir

Family Name
Pinaceae

Common Names
Balsam, Balsam fir, Blister fir, Bracted balsam fir, Canadian balsam, Canadian fir, Eastern fir, Fir, Galm of gilead fir, Silver pine, White fir, White spruce

Regions of Distribution
North America

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Canada, United States

Common Uses
Balusters, Baskets, Blinds, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Casks, Chemical derivatives, Construction, Cooperages, Food containers, Interior construction, Ironing boards, Light construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Packing cases, Pallets, Paneling, Particleboard, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Shipbuilding, Shutters, Stairworks, Stringers, Veneer, Windows

Environmental Profile

Distribution Overview
In Canada, from Newfoundland and Labrador west to northeast Alberta, then south and east to southern Manitoba. In the U.S., the species can be found in Minnesota, northeast Iowa, central Wisconsin, central Michigan, southern Ontario, New York, central Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Maine. This fir is also widely grown in Great Britain.

Heartwood Color

Latewood area of the growth ring may have a lavender tinge.

Sapwood Color

Grain

Texture

Natural Durability

Turns gray, with a silvery sheen after prolonged exposure to exterior conditions
Very little natural resistance to attack by decay organisms and other wood destroying insects.

Weathering

Odor

Light-Induced Color Change

Kiln Schedules

Drying Defects

Ease of Drying

Tree Size

Product Sources
Timber coming from Balsam fir is marketed with the spruces (Picea) in the Spruce-Pine-Fir grade.

Apart from timber, Balsam fir is also the source of many secondary products. The aromatic foliage is used in Christmas trees, wreaths, and balsam pillows. Canada balsam, an aromatic oleoresin produced from swelling or resin blisters in the bark, is used for mounting specimens for microscopes and for optical cement. Foliage of Balsam fir trees are also fodder for deer and moose in the winter season.

Certified Source

Substitutes
Copaia (Jacaranda copaia )

Comments
General strength properties = low

Blunting Effect

Boring

Carving

Gluing

Mortising

Moulding

Nailing

Planing

Resistance to Impregnation

Response to Hand Tools

Routing & Recessing

Screwing

Turning

Veneering Qualities

Painting

Polishing

Staining

Varnishing

Strength Properties

Numerical Data

References
Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Hardwoods – Temperate and Tropical. USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

Brown, H.P. and Panshin, A.J.,1940,Commercial Timbers of the United States Their structure, identification,,properties and uses,McGraw-Hill, London

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World: – No.7 North America,TRADA

Canadian Forestry Service. 1981. Canadian Woods – Their Properties and Uses. Third Edition. E.J. Mullins and T.S. McKnight, Editors. Published by University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Canada.

Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London

Dallimore, W. and Jackson, A. Bruce,1966,A Handbook of Coniferae and Ginkgoaceae Fourth Ed. Revised by S.G.,Harrison,Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd. London

Forest Products Research Laboratory U.K.,1957,A Handbook of Softwoods,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research,HMSO

I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting

Kloot, N. H. and E. Bolza. 1961. Properties of Timber Imported into Australia. Technological Paper No. 12. Division of Forest Products, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Organization, Melbourne, Australia.

Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12

Lavers, G.M.,1983,The Strength Properties of Timber (3rd ed. revised Moore G.L.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Report (formerly Bulletin No.50)

Little, E.L. 1980. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees – Eastern Region. Published by Alfred A. Knopf, New York.

Markwardt, L.J., Wilson, T.R.C.,1935,Strength and related properties of woods grown in the United States,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture Technical Bulletin,No.479

Mullins, E.J. and McKnight, T.S.,1981,Canadian Woods Their Properties and Uses,University of Toronto Press 3rd Edition

Panshin, A.J. and C. deZeeuw. Textbook of Wood Technology. McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York.

Pardy, A.A.,1951,Notes on Indigenous Trees and Shrubs of S. Rhodesia – Brachystegia,spiciformis,Ministry of Agriculture and Lands S. Rhodesia Bulletin,No.1604

Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press

Redding, L.W.,1971,Resistance of Timbers to Impregnation with Creosote,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Bulletin No.54 pp.43

Sonderman, D.L.,1970,American Woods – Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea,USDA, Forest Service American Woods FS-234

Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition

U.S.D.A. Forest Service,1974,Wood Handbook,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Handbook,72

USDA. 1987. Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material. Agriculture Handbook No. 72. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Madison, Wisconsin.

USDA. 1988. Dry Kiln Operators Manual, Preliminary Copy. Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.