Wood Species Guide
Douglas Fir
Pseudotsuga menziesii
Also called: Doug Fir, Douglas-Fir, Oregon Pine, Douglas Spruce, Coast Douglas Fir, Columbian Pine
What Douglas Fir looks like
Light tan to reddish brown, with darker bands of latewood. The color warms and deepens noticeably toward orange over the first year or two in light.
Grain and texture
Usually straight grain with a medium texture and a strong contrast between soft earlywood and hard latewood. Vertical-grain (quartersawn) stock shows tight parallel lines; flatsawn shows a wild cathedral pattern.
Working Douglas Fir: planing, cutting and gluing
Machines well with sharp tooling, but the hard and soft growth bands mean it can splinter at edges and tear out on flatsawn faces. Sanding tends to dish the softer earlywood, so use a hard backing block. It glues and screws well and is one of the strongest softwoods for its weight.
Finishing Douglas Fir: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Stain often blotches because the bands absorb it differently, so use a conditioner or a dye. Clear oil and hardwax oil bring out the warm color nicely. Pockets of pitch can show up; wipe them with mineral spirits and seal with shellac before a film finish or epoxy pour.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Rated moderately durable against decay and susceptible to insect attack, including termites, so keep it dry or treated outdoors. It is reasonably stable once dried. In Florida, keep untreated fir indoors or under cover and seal it on all sides.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Douglas fir is a great choice for rustic farmhouse tables, beams, mantels and industrial-style shelving where you want warm color on a budget. Vertical-grain fir is much more stable and better looking than construction lumber, so it is worth asking for. Expect it to dent more than oak or maple; many people like that lived-in look. We don't stock fir lumber right now, but ask us and we can often source beams or clear stock.
Common uses for Douglas Fir
Framing lumber, timber frames, beams, plywood, doors, windows, flooring, trim and rustic furniture.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices. Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Safety and toxicity
- Skin irritation
- Respiratory / asthma
- Splinters prone to infection
Reactions are uncommon. Some people get skin or nasal irritation from the dust, and fir splinters have a reputation for getting infected, so clean and cover any splinter wound.
- 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.
Reactions are uncommon, but skin and respiratory irritation have been reported, and fir splinters are prone to getting infected. Use dust collection and a respirator when sanding.
Douglas Fir in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Douglas 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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