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Sawn Timbers

Softwoods

Softwoods (Clear Grade) & European Redwoods

brooks bros softwoods
brooks bros softwoods

Softwoods contribute around 80 percent of the world’s production of timber. They come from coniferous evergreen forests that grow in cold or cool temperate climates like the Baltic region (Scandinavia and Northern Russia), Canada and North America. They grow much quicker than hardwoods and in some species can be harder and stronger than some hardwood species. Our softwoods range from clear grade like Douglas Fir and Western Red Cedar through to Scandinavian Redwoods.

Douglas Fir
douglas fir brooks bros softwood
Botanical Name
Pseudotsuga Menziesii
Origin
USA and Canada, also the UK, New Zealand and Australia
Brief Description
Colour: Light reddish-brown shade
Grain: Mostly straight
Texture:
Uniform medium texture
Note: It is not a true fir
Uses
More veneers and plywood are produced from Douglas Fir than any other wood. Also: For heavy construction work, roof trusses, interior and exterior joinery, poles, dock and harbour work, marine piling and ship building
Working Properties
Works well with hand and machine tools, nailing may need pre-boring, screws and glues well, stains effectively and finishes well with preparation
Durability
Moderately-durable
Density
530 kg/m³
European
Redwood
european redwood brooks bros softwood
Botanical Name
Pinus Sylvestris
Origin
Scandinavia and UK
Brief Description
Colour: Creamy white to yellow
Grain: Varying from straight to interlocked
Texture: Smooth
Uses
General Joinery, construction work, furniture, carcassing and house building
Working Properties
Works easily and well with both hand and machine tool, capable of a smooth clean finish
Durability
Non-durable, requires preservative treatment if used externally
Density
550 kg/m³
Hemlock
Botanical Name
Tsuga Heterophylla
Origin
Canada, USA and (recently) the UK
Brief Description
Colour: Pale brown with darker coloured bands of a reddish-purple cast.
Grain: Straight
Texture:
Fine and even
Uses
General construction, carpentry and joinery and sliced veneers for panelling and decorative veneers
Working Properties
Works well with hand and machine tools, nailing may need pre-boring, glues, stains and polishes well and gives a good result with paint and varnish
Durability
Non-durable
Density
500 kg/m³
Radiata Pine
Botanical Name
Pinus Radiata
Origin
Southern California and recently New Zealand, Australia and South Africa
Brief Description
Colour:A wide pale-coloured sapwood emphases a pinkish-brown heartwood
Grain: Spiral
Texture: Relatively uniform
Uses
Building and general construction, crates and boxes. Also: Selected logs
make attractive veneers for panelling
Working Properties
Easy to work, nails, screws and glues satisfactorily
Durability
Non-durable
Density
480 kg/m³
Siberian Larch
siberian larch brooks bros softwood
Botanical Name
Larix Decidua
Origin
Europe (Alps), the UK and Western Russia
Brief Description
Colour: Pale red-brown to brick red with clearly marked annual rings
Grain: Straight. Texture: Fine and uniform
Uses
Doors and window frames, staircases and flooring, ship building
Also: Pit props and posts, boat planking and exterior work.
Working Properties
Works well with hand and machine tools, nailing can cause splitting and pre-boring is essential, stains, paints and varnishes well
Durability
Moderately durable
Density
590 kg/m³
On the 7th March 2022 the Board of BBUK took the decision to indefinitely suspend all purchases of Russian timber with immediate effect. This will predominantly affect Siberian Larch. However, we do have many alternatives available at different price levels. READ MORE
Southern
Yellow Pine
Botanical Name
Pinus Palustris
Origin
Southern States of USA
Brief Description
Colour: Varies from pale straw to light reddish-brown
Grain: Soft straight.
Texture: Very even
Uses
Most versatile softwood suited to pattern making, carving, high-class joinery, general carpentry work, furniture, musical instruments, ship and boat building, light/medium construction, veneers (from selected logs)
Working Properties
Works very easily with hand and machine tools, finishes cleanly, nails, screws and glues and takes stains, paints and varnishes very well
Durability
Non-durable
Density
390 kg/m³
Western
Red Cedar
Botanical Name
Thuja Plicata.
Origin
The northern Rocky Mountains and Pacific North-west
Brief Description
Colour:From a dark chocolate brown to a salmon pink, matures from reddish-brown to silver-grey (a finish often sought after by architects)
Grain: Straight
Texture:
Rather coarse
Uses
Cladding, Shingles, external and internal joinery, glass house and shed manufacture
Working Properties
Works easily with both hand and machine tools, but care is needed to obtain the best results during mortising, planing and moulding. A good finish can be obtained, but cutters must be kept sharpened
Durability
Durable
Density
390 kg/m³

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