fir

open main page for all woods open page 2 for articles

NOTE: there is rarely any "standard" or "typical" look for a wood so take what's in this table with a grain of salt
the REST of the pictures on this page will give you a better overall feel for this wood

fir / Abies spp. of the family Pinaceae
Abies spp. of the family Pinaceae. There are over 5 dozen species in the genus Abies that have the word fir as all or part of one or more of their common names and I have no idea which of them are represented on this page except as specifically stated below. ALSO, there are more that 130 OTHER species, from dozens of genera, that also have the word fir as all or part of one or more of their common names. It is my intent that the woods on this page be from the genus Abies.

5" x 5" flat cut, 3" x 3" quartersawn, 1" wide end grain, and a 1/4" x 1/4" end grain closeup.

This softwood has no resin canals, is generally straight grained and has a gradual transition from earlywood to latewood although it often appears more abrupt than it is because of a much darker area at the end of the latewood.

Note: Douglas-fir, referred to on this web site (incorrectly, I realize) as "douglas fir" or "fir, douglas" is Pseudotsuga menziesii with Abies taxifolia as one of its numerous synonyms, and has its own page on this web site as "fir, douglas"

Lumber yards (and big box stores) often do not sell fir specifically but rather sell what they call "spruce-pine-fir", which means you may get any of those three (and often couldn't tell the difference anyway)

Also, as stated by the Western Wood Products Association, fir is sometimes sold in combination with hemlock. Specifically, they state: "Hem-Fir is a species combination of Western Hemlock and the true firs (Noble, California Red, Grand, Pacific Silver and White fir)"

A NOTE ABOUT FIR SPECIES IN THE USA

my samples:
NOTE: these pics were all taken in very bright incandescent lighting ("soft white" at 2700K)
colors will vary under other lighting conditions

both sides of a sample plank of grand fir / Abies grandis

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of grand fir / Abies grandis --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of NOT grand fir / Abies grandis --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site. NOTE:based on the fact that the end grain shows plentiful occurances of resin canals, this is clearly NOT any kind of fir and is almost certainly a pine (Pinus spp.)

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of balsam fir / Abies balsamea --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of balsam fir / Abies balsamea --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of balsam fir / Abies balsamea --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of balsam fir / Abies balsamea --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

first face and the end grain of a sample of Eastern fir / Abies balsamea. This part of a collection which is discussed here: COLLECTION A

the second face, before and after sanding, showing how the patina from aging is only surface deep.

end grain closeup and END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above.

first face and the end grain of a sample of fir / Abies spp. --- This part of a collection which is discussed here: COLLECTION C

the second face, before and after slicing off 1/8" showing how the patina from aging is only surface deep.

end grain closeup and END GRAIN UPDATE of the piece directly above

both sides of a sample plank of concolor fir / Abies concolor --- HUGE enlargements are present.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of concolor fir / Abies concolor --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of quartersawn concolor fir / Abies concolor --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of Fraser fir / Abies fraseri (I note that the vendor has it correctly as fraseri, which is an exception to the general rule that botanical wood names end in "ii" rather than "i")

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above --- the closeup should be slightly more yellow

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of Fraser fir / Abies fraseri --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site. (I note that the vendor has it correctly as fraseri, which is an exception to the general rule that botanical wood names end in "ii" rather than "i")

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of Fraser fir / Abies fraseri --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of Fraser fir / Abies fraseri --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of quartersawn Fraser fir / Abies fraseri --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of Greek fir / Abies cephalonica --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of Greek fir / Abies cephalonica --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of Greek fir / Abies cephalonica --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of noble fir / Abies procera --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of noble fir / Abies procera --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of salween fir (a Chinese fir) / Abies chensiensis --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site. The yellow tint in these pics is way too extreme.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

both sides of a sample plank of Pacific silver fir / Abies amabilis --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of Pacific silver fir / Abies amabilis --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of silver fir / Abies amabilis --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of silver fir / Abies alba --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of subalpine fir / Abies lasiocarpa --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of subalpine fir / Abies lasiocarpa --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of sacred fir / Abies religiosa --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of sacred fir / Abies religiosa --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of sacred fir / Abies religiosa --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of white fir / Abies concolor --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of California red fir / Abies magnifica --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of quartersawn California red fir / Abies magnifica --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of Japanese fir / Abies firma --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of Japanese fir / Abies firma --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of bristlecone fir / Abies bracteata --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of Nordmann fir / Abies nordmanniana --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of Caucasian fir / Abies nordmanniana --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site. Very light: 26lbs/cuft

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of Caucasian fir / Abies nordmanniana --- HUGE enlargements are present.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of Spanish fir / Abies pinsapo --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of Taiwan fir / Abies kawakamii --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site. This stuff is INCREDIBLY light. This piece prorates out to 17lbs/cuft. I've seen balsa wood that was heavier (though not by much).

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

both sides of a sample plank of Taiwan fir / Abies kawakamii --- HUGE enlargements are present.

end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above

END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

small fir pieces and end grain --- these are all from the same plank

sample plank and end grain sold to me as Algerian fir / Abies numidica --- Just based on this very small sample plank, I'd say that this is an unusually light wood. I believe that the black lines are spalting but it is remotely possible that they are water stain. NOTE: it's not completely clear to me but I believe that the apparent "pores" shown in the end grain shots are just that --- APPARENT, not real. I think they are pitting due to the extreme softness of this sample (it's at least as light as balsa wood)

end grain closeup and END GRAIN UPDATE of the piece directly above

a section of a lumber store slat that was just labeled fir. HUGE enlargements are present

end grain, end grain closeup, and END GRAIN UPDATE of the piece directly above

not even sure where I got this, but it was labeled fir and it looks very much to me like old growth Douglas fir (it has 30+ rings/inch) but I don't know that for sure so have it here on the general fir page. HUGE enlargements are present

end grain, end grain closeup, and END GRAIN UPDATE of the piece directly above

two sections of an 8' 2x6 of white fir from a big box store

I bought a batch of this as a mystery wood. It definitely looked to me to be some form of fir, but I was not 100% positive about that so I left it on the Mystery Wood page (#140) for a couple of years and when I started my END GRAIN UPDATE process I got a good clear look at the end grain and after comparing it closely with various species of larch, pine, and cedar I'm satisfied that it is fir. Also, the weight is right for fir. There are actually TWO weights for this batch, what I'm calling the "light" and the "heavy" (see below) with the "light" being about 23 lbs/cubic foot and the "heavy" being 30lbs/cubic foot, both of which are reasonable for fir.

"light" pieces and closeup

"heavy" pieces and closeup

end grain of both (one light piece on top, two heavy below)

face grain (and end grain) of a sanded piece

side grain of the same piece as directly above

end grain and END GRAIN UPDATE of the piece directly above. It was this end grain update that finally convinced me to move it from the Mystery Wood page here to the fir page.

quartersawn veneer with accurately shown reddish color; this looks exactly like a plank I had, after it had been exposed to the air and light for a long time.

The Wood Book pics

flat cut, quartersawn, and end grain
balsam fir (Abies balsamea, also listed as just "balsam" and balm-of-Gilead fir) from The Wood Book --- both levels of enlargement are available for each of the 3 views

flat cut, quartersawn, and end grain
California white fir (Abies concolor) from The Wood Book --- both levels of enlargement are available for each of the 3 views

flat cut, quartersawn, and end grain
Shasta fir (Abies magnifica, also listed as California red fir and magnificent fir) from The Wood Book --- both levels of enlargement are available for each of the 3 views

flat cut, quartersawn, and end grain
grand fir (Abies grandis, listed as great silver fir) from The Wood Book --- both levels of enlargement are available for each of the 3 views

flat cut, quartersawn, and end grain
noble fir (Abies nobilis, also listed as Oregon larch) from The Wood Book --- both levels of enlargement are available for each of the 3 views

flat cut, quartersawn, and end grain
bristlecone fir (Abies venusta, also listed as Santa Lucia silver fir) from The Wood Book --- both levels of enlargement are available for each of the 3 views

flat cut, quartersawn, and end grain
amabilia fir (Abies amabilis, also listed as red silver fir) from The Wood Book --- both levels of enlargement are available for each of the 3 views

flat cut, quartersawn, and end grain
Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) from The Wood Book --- both levels of enlargement are available for each of the 3 views

web pics:

no designation other than "fir"

end grains

planks just listed as "fir")

plank end grain (just listed as fir)

slab and closeup

slab

moulding just listed as fir

paneling

balsam fir

balsam fir plank

balsam fir end grain

grand fir

grand fir plank

grand fir end grain

silver fir / European silver fir

plank listed as European silver fir / Abies alba and with wet and dry sections

European silver fir / Abies alba, flat cut, quartersawn and 2 shots of end grain

European silver fir / Abies alba flat cut veneer

silver fir veneer

silver fir plank

Spanish fir

Spanish fir end grain

white fir

planks listed as white fir

fir section on a laminated bowl. The pic on the left is fresh off the lathe and the one on the right is after one coat of natural stain. The wood behind the fir is bubinga. I just had this as "fir"; don't know what kind in particular