NATIVE/EUROPEAN LARCH: B
Commonly thought of only to be suitable for fencing, gates and other exterior applications. Consideration should be given for selected stock to be used more readily in furniture and interior high class joinery work. The diminishing supply of Reclaimed Pitched Pine has increased the demand for a readily available substitute. Although not the same, Larch is the nearest commercially available species. It is a very attractive softwood available in long and wide specifications. It’s only real problem is the occurrence in some boards of dead knots which sometimes have a tendency to fall out of the board. It is also proving very popular for flooring. Normally sawn to order and can be available quickly from the round log to kiln dried boards.

Production: T/T, 1S/E, S/E, DIM.

Larix decidua
Family: Pinaceae

Distribution: Europe, particularly the mountain areas of Alps, U.K.,
W. Russia.

General description: This is a softwood, the resinous heartwood is pale red-brown to brick red in colour, with uniform texture, it is the only European deciduous conifer. Weight about 590 kg/m3 (37lb/ft3); specific gravity 0.59.
Mechanical properties: Air dried timber is about 50% harder thanLARCH, EUROPEAN cont. Baltic Redwood and slightly stronger in bending strength and toughness, with similar properties in crushing and impact strengths.

Seasoning: Larch dries fairly rapidly with a tendency to distort and for knots to split and loosen. It may be kiln dried very satisfactorily. There is small movement in service.

Working properties: Works well with most hand and machine tools but knotty material can cause severe blunting of cutting edges. It saws and machines cleanly in most operations although loosened knots may be troublesome. Nailing causes splitting and pre-boring is essential. It takes stain, paint or varnish well.

Durability: The wood is moderately durable and subject to insect attack. The heartwood is resistant and the sapwood moderately resistant to preservative treatment.

Uses: Pit props, posts, transmission poles, piles, boat planking, exterior work in contact with the ground. Door and window frames, flooring, staircases and ship building. As Larch is harder and tougher than most conifers it is used in preference where durability and strength are prime requirements.

JBT Comments: Commonly thought of to be only suitable for fencing, gates and other exterior applications. Consideration should be given for selected stock to be used more readily in furniture and interior high class joinery work. The deminishing supply of Reclaimed Pitch Pine has increased the demand for a readily available substitute. Although not the same, Larch is the nearest species that is commercially available. Particularly Siberian Larch which we sell as a seperate species. European Larch is a very attractive softwood available in long and wide specifications. Its only real problem is the occurrence in some boards of dead knots which sometimes have a tendency to fall out of the board. It is proving very popular for flooring.

Grade: First Quality, also known as “Boatskin” quality, selected and
produced to customers requirements. Lower grades are available to order.

Specification: Through and through and/or one square edge; 8ft and longer, average 11ft or better. 6ins and wider, averaging 12ins or better.

Stockholding: 1,000 cubic feet in kiln dried and air dried stock: 1in, 11/2ins and 2ins. 500 cubic feet of boatskin/joinery quality logs available for sawing
and kilning to customers requirements.