Pine (Pinus sylvestris)

The pine found it's way into Sweden from the south about 12 000 years ago. Today it's together with the spruce Sweden's most important tree. Depending on where it grows, it varies in appearance. In the north it has shorter pins and narrower crow than in the southern parts of the country.

The hartwood has good resistance against rot and it's darker than the sapwood.

The best logs are used for veneer and furniture-timber. The wood is easily worked and easy to split and dry. It's also easy to finish and pressure impregnate. Modification in form is small.

At 18% moisture Density Hardness Toughness 480 kg/m3 300 Janka 87 Mpa

Although the spruce was established in Sweden not more than about 3000 years ago, it's our most common tree today. It's represented in the whole country except for above the timberline.

The spruce can take very low temperatures and has no problems with shadow. However, it's very sensitive when it comes to drought, storm and air pollutions. It also often get rot in the lower part of the trunk.

The pruce is harvested at an age of between 70 to 120 years. It can reach the height of 51 meters and a circumference of 5 meters, which makes it our tallest tree.

The loss of pins has since the middle 1980's been used as a indicator for the vitality of the forest.

The town hall in Amsterdam is standing on 13.659 poles of spruce.

At 18% moisture Density Hardness Toughness 380 kg/m3 270 Janka 66 Mpa

The Oak grows relatively fast (about 20 meters in 50 years), has a very wide trunk and ages of over 500 years is not uncommon. The oldest oak in scandinavia is the "Kongeegen" on Sjælland, Denmark which is over 1000 years old.

The oak does not have very high demands on where it grows, however it does need lots of light. The oak lets a lot of light through it's leaves, which means lots of ground vegetation.

The wood is hard, heavy, strong, but relatively easy to cleave.

Oak was earlier used for building ships and other water-constructions. Nowdays it's mostly used for floors, furniture and decorations.

Density Hardness Toughness 720 kg/m3 450 Janka 95 Mpa

Birch has average weight, is average hard and is very tough. The form is somewhat stable when the moisture change.

Birchwood must be kept dry, cause if it is exposed to moisture it will easily rot. The birch is not suitable for use outdoors without special treatment.

Thanks to the unique combination of hardness and toughness, birch is used for furniture, carpentry and floors.

The largest Birch in Sweden grows outside Borrgården, outside of Ljusdal. It measures 4 meters in circumference, 30 cm above the ground. The highest, 33,5 meters, grows in Arvika.

Density Hardness Toughness 600 kg/m3 420 Janka 125 Mpa

The wood looks like the birch's with weakly marked annual rings. It's soft, light and hardly any elasticity. It's senistive to rot and bugs, but very perpetual under water.

It's easy to work with, dye and polish. Mostly used for waterconstructions, carvings, model construction, clogs, toys and cigarboxes.

Density Hardness Toughness 520kg/m3 215 Janka 86 Mpa

The Ash is demanding, want good soil, good subsoil water and is sensitive to springfrost.

The wood is heavy, hard with high durability and elasticity. It's easy to work with and treat.

Ash is used for athletic equipment, toolshafts, oars, floors, furnitures and decorations.

Density Hardness Toughness 675 kg/m3 450 Janka 100 Mpa

The Aspen is Swedens only wild poplar and is, together with the Birch, the oldest species of tree in Sweden.

It's a fast-growing and sun-loving tree with a straight trunk and airy crown. The Aspen often don't become more than 100 years old. The rootsystem is wide and close to the surface. One aspengrove often consist of only one individual.

It's mostly used for matches but also mdelconstruction, carpentry and other objects where one want lightness.

Density Hardness Toughness 490 kg/m3 260 Janka 78 Mpa