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Wood Specifications

Common Names(s): Slash Pine
Scientific Name: Pinus elliottii
Distribution: Southeastern United States, though also widely grown on plantations
Tree Size: 60-100 ft (18-30 m) tall, 2-3 ft (.6-1 m) trunk diameter
Average Dried Weight: 41 lbs/ft3 (655 kg/m3)
Specific Gravity: .54, .66
Janka Hardness: 760 lbf (3,380 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 16,300 lbf/in2 (112.4 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,980,000 lbf/in2 (13.70 GPa)
Crushing Strength: 8,140 lbf/in2 (56.1 MPa)
Shrinkage: Radial: 5.4%, Tangential: 7.6%, Volumetric: 12.1%, T/R Ratio: 1.4

Sanded

Sealed

Color & Appearance

Heartwood is reddish brown, sapwood is yellowish white.

Grain & Texture

Straight grained with a fine to medium texture.

Endgrain

Large resin canals, numerous and evenly distributed, mostly solitary ; earlywood to latewood transition abrupt, color contrast high; tracheid diameter medium-large.

Rot Resistance

The heartwood is rated as moderately resistant to decay.

Workability

Overall, Slash Pine works fairly well with most tools, though the resin can gum up tools and clog sandpaper. Slash Pine glues and finishes well.

Odor

Has a distinct smell that is shared among most species in the Pinus genus.

Allergies & Toxicity

Slash pine has been reported to cause allergic skin reactions and/or asthma in some people. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Pricing & Availability

Should be widely available as construction lumber for a modest price.

Sustainability

This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, and is reported by the IUCN as being a species of least concern.

Common Uses

Slash Pine is used for heavy construction, such as: bridges, beams, poles, railroad ties, etc. It’s also used for making plywood, wood pulp, and veneers.

Slash Pine is considered to be in the group of southern yellow pines, and shares many characteristics with other species of this group (Longleaf, Shortleaf, and Loblolly Pine) such as being: hard, dense, and possessing an excellent strength-to-weight ratio.

Related Species

Austrian Pine (Pinus nigra)
Caribbean Pine (Pinus caribaea)
Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)
Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana)
Jeffrey Pine (Pinus jeffreyi)
Khasi Pine (Pinus kesiya)
Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda)
Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta)
Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris)
Maritime Pine (Pinus pinaster)
Ocote Pine (Pinus oocarpa)
Patula Pine (Pinus patula)
Pinyon Pine (Pinus edulis)
Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida)
Pond Pine (Pinus serotina)
Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)
Radiata Pine (Pinus radiata)
Red Pine (Pinus resinosa)
Sand Pine (Pinus clausa)
Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris)
Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata)
Spruce Pine (Pinus glabra)
Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana)
Sumatran Pine (Pinus merkusii)
Table Mountain Pine (Pinus pungens)
Western White Pine (Pinus monticola)
Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana)