Wood Species Guide
Balsam Fir
Abies balsamea
Also called: Eastern Fir, Canada Balsam, Blister Fir, Bracted Balsam Fir; sold in SPF lumber
What Balsam Fir looks like
Off-white to pale tan, with little contrast between heartwood and sapwood. Some boards have a faint pinkish or purple cast.
Grain and texture
Straight grain with a medium-coarse texture. It is light and soft, and knots are common.
Working Balsam Fir: planing, cutting and gluing
Easy to cut and nail but soft enough to crush and fuzz, so keep tools sharp. It does not have the pitchy resin of pine in the wood, though blisters in the bark hold sticky balsam resin.
Finishing Balsam Fir: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Paints well. Stain can look uneven on the soft earlywood, so condition first. A seal coat before epoxy keeps the porous surface from releasing bubbles.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Not durable and quick to decay outdoors, and insects attack it. In Florida it belongs indoors only.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Balsam fir is best known as a fragrant Christmas tree and for the balsam pillows sold in New England. As lumber it is mixed into SPF framing and used for crates and pulp. It is not a furniture wood. We don't stock it, but ask us and we can often source it.
Common uses for Balsam Fir
Construction lumber, crates, pulp and paper, plywood, Christmas trees and balsam resin products.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices. Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Safety and toxicity
- Skin irritation
- Splinters prone to infection
Reactions are uncommon. Fir dust can irritate the skin, and splinters from rough fir have a reputation for festering.
- In the shop
- Dust collection and a mask when sanding; gloves for rough stock
- Food contact
- Not recommended for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
Fir dust is occasionally reported to irritate skin. Use dust collection and a mask when sanding.
Balsam Fir in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Balsam Fir listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
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