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Created on Thursday, 17 January 2008 00:25
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General WoodWorking

The table below provides laboratory values for several properties of

wood that are associated with wood strength. Note that due to
inadequacies of samples, these values may not necessarily represent
average characteristics .

Wood Finishing
Furniture Making
Intarsia
Scroll Sawing

Tree Species

U. S. Hardwoods
Alder, Red
Ash, Black
Ash, Blue
Ash, Green
Ash, Oregon
Ash, White
Aspen, Bigtooth
Aspen, Quaking
Basswood
Beech, American
Birch, Paper
Birch, Sweet
Birch, Yellow
Butternut

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Cherry, Black
Chestnut, American
Cottonwood, Balsam
Poplar
Cottonwood, Black
Elm, Eastern
Elm, American
Elm, Rock
Elm, Slippery
Hackberry
Hickory, Bitternut
Hickory, Nutmeg
Hickory, Pecan
Hickory, Water
Hickory, Mockernut
Hickory, Pignut
Hickory, Shagbark
Hickory, Shellbark
Honeylocust
Locust, Black
Magnolia,Cucumbertree
Magnolia, Southern
Maple, Bigleaf
Maple, Black
Maple, Red
Maple, Silver
Maple, Sugar
Oak, Black
Oak, Cherrybark
Oak, Laurel
Oak, Northern Red
Oak, Pin
Oak, Scarlet
Oak, Southern Red
Oak, Water
Oak, Willow

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Oak, Bur
Oak, Chestnut
Oak, Live
Oak, Overcup
Oak, Post

Work Shop Tips

Shear
Impact Compress. Compress.
Static
Average
Specific Bending Bending, Parallel to Perpen. to Parallel to
Gravity, Modulus Height of Grain, Max Grain, Fiber Grain,
Max
Stress at
Crushing
Drop
of
Oven Dry
Shear
Prop. Limit
Strength
Sample Elasticity Causing
Strength
Failure
(E)
(0-1.0)
10^6 psi
inches
psi
psi
psi
0.41
0.49

1.38
1.60

20
35

5,820
5,970

440
760

1,080
1,570

0.58
0.56

1.40
1.66

32

6,980
7,080

1,420
1,310

2,030
1,910

0.55
0.60
0.39
0.38

1.36
1.74
1.43
1.18

33
43
21

6,040
7,410
5,300
4,250

1,250
1,160
450
370

1,790
1,910
1,080
850

0.37
0.64
0.55
0.65
0.62
0.38
0.50
0.43

1.46
1.72
1.59
2.17
2.01
1.18
1.49
1.23

16
41
34
47
55
24
29
19

4,730
7,300
5,690
8,540
8,170
5,110
7,110
5,320

370
1,010
600
1,080
970
460
690
620

990
2,010
1,210
2,240
1,880
1,170
1,700
1,080

0.34

1.1

4,020

300

790

0.35
0.40
0.50
0.63
0.53
0.53
0.66
0.6
0.66

1.27
1.37
1.34
1.54
1.49
1.19
1.79
1.70
1.73

22
20
39
56
45
43
66
44

4,500
4,910
5,520
7,050
6,360
5,440
9,040
6,910
7,850

300
380
690
1,230
820
890
1,680
1,570
1,720

1,040
930
1,510
1,920
1,630
1,590
2,080

0.62
0.72
0.75
0.72
0.69
0.69

2.02
2.22
2.26
2.16
1.89
1.63
2.05

53
77
74
67
88
47
57

8,600
8,940
9,190
9,210
8,000
7,500
10,180

1,550
1,730
1,980
1,760
1,800
1,840
1,830

1,740
2,150
2,430
2,110
2,250
2,480

0.48
0.50
0.48
0.57

1.82
1.40
1.45
1.62

35
29
28
40

6,310
5,460
5,950
6,680

570
860
750
1,020

1,340
1,530
1,730
1,820

0.54
0.47
0.63
0.61
0.68
0.63
0.63

1.64
1.14
1.83
1.64
2.28
1.69
1.82

32
25
39
41
49
39
43

6,540
5,220
7,830
6,520
8,740
6,980
6,760

1,000
740
1,470
930
1,250
1,060
1,010

1,850
1,480
2,330
1,910
2,000
1,830
1,780

0.63
0.67
0.59
0.63

1.73
1.91
1.49
2.02

45
53
26
44

6,820
8,330
6,090
6,770

1,020
1,120
870
1,020

2,080
1,890
1,390
2,020

0.69
0.64
0.66
0.88
0.63
0.67

1.90
1.03
1.59
1.98
1.42
1.51

42
29
40
38
46

7,040
6,060
6,830
8,900
6,200
6,600

1,130
1,200
840
2,840
810
1,430

1,650
1,820
1,490
2,660
2,000
1,840

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Oak, Swamp Chestnut

Oak, Swamp White
Oak, White
Sassafras

0.67
0.72
0.68
0.46

1.77
2.05
1.78
1.12

41
49
37
-

7,270
8,600
7,440
4,760

1,110
1,190
1,070
850

1,990
2,000
2,000
1,240

Sweetgum
Sycamore, American
Tupelo, Black
Tupelo, Water

0.52
0.49
0.50

1.64
1.42
1.20

32
26
22

6,320
5,380
5,520

620
700
930

1,600
1,470
1,340

0.50
0.55
0.39
0.42

1.26
1.68
1.01
1.58

23
34
24

5,920
7,580
4,100
5,540

870
1,010
430
500

1,590
1,370
1,250
1,190

0.46
0.44
0.32

1.44
1.42
0.93

24
29
13

6,360
6,310
4,700

730
620
410

1,000
1,130
800

0.47

0.88

22

6,020

920

0.37

1.04

17

5,200

590

880

0.31
0.43

0.80
1.70

12
28

3,960
6,250

310
720

850
1,370

0.32

1.11

17

4,560

460

990

0.48

1.95

31

7,230

800

1,130

0.50

1.83

32

7,430

760

1,290

0.48

1.79

26

6,900

770

1,400

0.46

1.49

20

6,230

740

1,510

0.35

1.45

20

5,280

404

944

0.38
0.37

1.50
1.57

24
28

5,460
5,290

610
500

1,040
900

0.39
0.43
0.32

1.72
1.76
1.29

23
24
-

6,100
6,410
4,860

520
450
390

1,050
1,220
1,070

0.39
0.40
0.45
0.45

1.50
1.20
1.33
1.63

20
21
32
23

5,800
5,410
6,440
7,200

530
650
860
550

1,100
1,060
1,540
1,290

0.52
0.35
0.43
0.51
0.41
0.59

1.87
1.24
1.35
1.79
1.34
1.98

35
18
27
30
20
34

7,620
4,800
5,660
7,130
5,370
8,470

930
440
580
790
610
960

1,360
900
1,170
1,390
880
1,510

0.52
0.56
0.40
0.46

1.43
1.75
1.29
1.63

19
26

5,940
7,540
5,320
6,070

820
910
580
600

1,360
1,380
1,130
1,210

0.48
0.51
0.59
0.44

1.41
1.75
1.98
1.23

33
-

6,920
7,270
8,140
5,650

836
820
1,020
730

1,390
1,680
1,490

0.36
0.48
0.38

1.19
1.52
1.46

18
32
23

4,460
6,710
5,040

500
910
470

1,130
1,350
1,040

Walnut, Black
Willow, Black
Yellow-poplar
U. S. Softwoods
Baldcypress
Cedar, Alaska
Cedar, Atlantic White
Cedar, Eastern
Redcedar

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Cedar, Incense
Cedar, Northern White
Cedar, Port-Orford
Cedar, Western
Redcedar
Douglas-fir, Coast
Douglas-fir, Interior
West
Douglas-fir, Interior
North
Douglas-fir, Interior
South
Fir, Balsam
Fir, California Red
Fir, Grand
Fir, Noble
Fir, Pacific silver
Fir, Subalpine
Fir, White
Hemlock, Eastern
Hemlock, Mountain
Hemlock, Western
Larch, western
Pine, Eastern white
Pine, Jack
Pine, Loblolly
Pine, Lodgepole
Pine, Longleaf
Pine, Pitch
Pine, Pond
Pine, Ponderosa
Pine, Red
Pine, Sand
Pine, Shortleaf
Pine, Slash
Pine, Spruce
Pine, Sugar
Pine, Virginia
Pine, Western white
Redwood, Old-growth

0.40

1.34

19

6,150

700

940

Redwood, Younggrowth

0.35

1.10

15

5,220

520

1,110

Spruce, Black
Spruce, Engelmann
Spruce, Red
Spruce, Sitka
Spruce, White
Tamarack

0.42
0.35
0.40
0.40
0.36
0.53

1.61
1.30
1.61
1.57
1.43
1.64

23
18
25
25
20
23

5,960
4,480
5,540
5,610
5,180
7,160

550
410
550
580
430
800

1,230
1,200
1,290
1,150
970
1,280

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Strength may be defined as the ability to resist applied stress: the greater the resistance, the
stronger the material. Resistance may be measured in several ways. One is the maximum stress
that the material can endure before "failure" occurs. Another approach is to measure the
deformation or strain that results from a given level of stress before the point of total failure.
Strength of wood is often thought of in terms of bending strength. This is certainly a useful
yardstick of strength but is by no means the only one. A number of other strength criteria are
described below.
Stress is the amount of force for a given unit of area. It is typically measured in pounds per square
inch (psi). Example: if a 1000 pound load was applied on the edge of a block of wood measuring
2-inches by 2-inches in cross-section by 10 inches in length, the applied stress would be 1000
pounds divided by 4 square inches = 250 lb./sq. inch.
Strain is defined as unit deformation or movement per unit of original length. It is typically
expressed in inches per inch. Example: if the 10-inch long block of wood in the stress example
above was compressed by 0.002 inches, the strain would be 0.002 inches/10 inches = 0.0002
inches per inch.
Elasticity is a property of wood in which strains or deformations are recoverable after an applied
stress is removed, up to a certain level of stress known as the proportional limit. Below this point,
each increment of stress will produce a proportional increment of strain (the stress/strain ratio is

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Wood Strengths

Page 3 of 4

constant) and the wood will return to its original position once the stress is removed. Beyond the
proportional limit, each increment of stress will cause increasingly larger increments of strain (as
failure is approached) and removal of the stress will only result in a partial recovery of the strain.
Modulus of elasticity or Young's modulus is the ratio of stress to strain. Within the elastic range
below the proportional limit, this ratio is a constant for a given piece of wood, making it useful in
static bending tests for determining the relative stiffness of a board. The modulus of elasticity is
normally measured in pounds per square inch (psi) and is abbreviated as MOE or E. Values for E
relating to wood properties are commonly in terms of million psi; for simplicity, a board with a
modulus of elasticity of 2,100,000 psi. (2.1 x 106) may be reported as 2.1E.
Modulus of rupture is the maximum load carrying capacity of a member. It is generally used in
tests of bending strength to quantify the stress required to cause failure. It is reported in units of
psi.
Fiber stress at proportional limit represents the maximum stress a board can be subjected to
without exceeding the elastic range of the wood. Permanent set will result if an applied stress
exceeds the proportional limit. This property is typically reported in units of psi.
Maximum crushing strength is the maximum stress sustained by a board when pressure is
applied parallel to the grain.
Impact bending involves dropping a hammer of a given weight upon a board from successively
greater heights until complete rupture occurs. The height of the drop that causes failure provides a
comparative measure of how well the wood absorbs shock. It is reported in units of inches or
centimeters.
Stiffness may be quantified using the modulus of elasticity, E. The higher the E value, the stiffer
the wood and the lower the deformation under a given load. A board rated at 2.0E is twice as stiff
as one rated at 1.0E.
Compression stress shortens or compresses the material. For the woodworker, the primary types
of compression to consider are parallel to the grain and perpendicular to the grain. Compression
parallel to the grain shortens the fibers in the wood lengthwise. An example would be chair or table
legs which are primarily subjected to downward, rather than lateral pressure. Wood is very strong
in compression parallel to the grain and this is seldom a limiting factor in furniture design. It is
considerably weaker in compression perpendicular to the grain. An example of this type of
compression would be the pressure that chair legs exert on a wooden floor. If the applied pressure
(weight) exceeds the fiber stress at proportional limit for the wood, permanent indentations will
result in the floor. Compression stress is measured in psi.
Tensile stress elongates or expands an object. Measurements of tensile stress perpendicular to
the grain are useful for quantifying resistance to splitting. Examples of such stress include splitting
firewood, driving nails, and forcing cupped boards to be flat. Wood is relatively weak in tension
perpendicular to the grain but it is very strong in tension parallel to the grain (visualize a board
being pulled from both ends). Due to difficulties in testing and the limited use for such data, tension
parallel to the grain has not been extensively measured and/or reported to date. Tensile stress is
measured in psi.
Shear stress involves the application of stress from two opposite directions causing portions of an
object to move in parallel but opposite directions. Wood is very resistant to shearing perpendicular
to the grain and this property is not measured via a standard test. Wood shears much easier in a
direction parallel to the grain - consider a screw running perpendicular to the grain: it will shear out
to the nearest end-grain if a sufficiently large force is applied to the board parallel to the grain.
Shear stress is measured in psi.
Density is weight per unit volume. For wood, density is expressed as pounds per cubic foot,
kilograms per cubic meter, or grams per cubic centimeter - at a specified moisture content. Density
is the single most important indicator of strength in wood: a wood that is heavier (i.e., more wood
substance per unit volume) will generally tend to be stronger than a lighter one.
Specific gravity as applied to wood, is the ratio of an ovendry weight of a wood sample to the
weight of water (whose volume is equal to the volume of the wood sample at a specified moisture
content). Specific gravity is often used in place of density to standardize comparisons of wood
species - as with density, the higher the specific gravity, the heavier the wood, and the stronger it
tends to be. At a moisture content of 12 percent, most woods have a specific gravity between 0.3
to 0.8 (water has a specific gravity of 1.0).
Source: U.S. Forest Products Laboratory and Chris Messier - Messman
Need to know more about wood? We recommend the following guides:

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Comments
+2

#2 Guest 2013-05-20 18:32

What about Pacific Yew and Osage/Bodock?

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+5

#1 Samuel Markley 2012-03-07 10:12

Thank you very much for this beautifully laid out and insightful work you have
done for this page.

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