[pianotech] #2 Soundboard Wood

[Farrell]

"could it have such tight grain?"

Sure. Growing conditions dictate grain/annualr-ring density. Sitka Spruce is a "tolerant" tree - meaning shade-tolerant - it grows well in shady conditions. Shady conditions (or understory tree growth) are (one of the) common factors that produce narrow annular rings. The heart-wood is the oldest wood - the stuff that was growing when the tree was young - and likely an understory situation (growing under the shade of other mature trees) - so it grew slowly, resulting in narrow annular rings - or "tight grain".

"My understanding of heart wood is that it is the middle of the tree."

Yes, that is correct.

Terry Farrell
B.S. Foresty, Michigan State University
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: erwinspiano at aol.com 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2009 6:43 PM
  Subject: Re: [pianotech] #2 Soundboard Wood


  I don't beleive that it's all heart wood. I've got some pieces of this 10 to 11 inches wide. May be it is, if so could it have such tight grain? My understanding of heart wood is that it is the middle of the tree.
    
    Dale




  -----Original Message-----
  From: Farrell <mfarrel2 at tampabay.rr.com>
  To: pianotech at ptg.org
  Sent: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 2:31 pm
  Subject: Re: [pianotech] #2 Soundboard Wood


  The pink in Sitka boards is the heartwood.

  Terry Farrell
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    SNIP
    Other lumber guys have told me it's the iron content in the wood that creates the reddish color. I can't confirm this but.... 
    SNIP
      Dale


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