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Eastern White Pine

Pinus strobus

Also known as: White Pine, Northern White Pine, Soft Pine, Weymouth Pine

Technical Spec Sheet

2026-07-14

Eastern White Pine wood grain

Reference grain swatch

Janka Hardness
380 lbf (1,690 N)
Avg. Dried Weight
400 kg/m³ (25 lb/ft³)
Specific Gravity
0.4
Type
Softwood
Grain
Straight and even. Growth rings are faint and texture is uniform.
Texture
Fine and Even
Durability
Perishable
Region
North America
Sustainability
Sustainable — Not CITES listed. IUCN: Least Concern. Abundant in Eastern North America.

Overview

Eastern White Pine is the timber that built Colonial America. It is the premier softwood for craftsmanship, offering a texture so soft and uniform that it is often described as working like firm cheese. While too soft for heavy flooring, its stability makes it the ultimate choice for pattern making and millwork.

Extremely lightweight and soft, with a very low specific gravity. Despite its lack of hardness, it is structurally stiff for its weight and holds its shape better than almost any other commercial softwood.

Workshop Notes

Blunting Effect

Very Low; perhaps the easiest wood to machine.

Gluing

Excellent; absorbs glue readily.

Finishing

Challenging with stain; requires a washcoat or conditioner to prevent blotching. Knots must be sealed with shellac to prevent resin bleed.

Steam Bending

Poor; prone to buckling.

Scent

Faint, pleasant resinous pine scent.

Assessment

Strengths

  • Unsurpassed workability (hand tools)
  • Excellent dimensional stability
  • Lightweight
  • Availability of wide, clear boards

Weaknesses

  • Very soft (dents with fingernail pressure)
  • Knots often contain pitch that bleeds through paint
  • Difficult to stain evenly (blotching)
  • Poor rot resistance

Common Uses

Construction lumber · Millwork (sashes and doors) · Pattern making · Carving · Crates and boxes · Boat building (masts/spars)