Wood Species Guide
Sugar Pine
Pinus lambertiana
Also called: California Sugar Pine, Big Pine, Soft Pine; sold in the white pine group with western white pine
What Sugar Pine looks like
Heartwood is a light, creamy tan to pale brown, and the sapwood is nearly white. Fine brown resin ducts show as tiny lines on the face of the board.
Grain and texture
Very straight grain with an even, medium texture. It is one of the most uniform softwoods you can buy.
Working Sugar Pine: planing, cutting and gluing
Soft, light and very easy to cut, carve and plane by hand or machine. It is famous with pattern makers because it barely moves and carves cleanly in any direction. Glues, nails and screws well; keep blades sharp to avoid fuzzy end grain.
Finishing Sugar Pine: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Takes paint beautifully and accepts clear oil well. Oil-based stain can blotch, so use a conditioner or gel stain. Resin is light, but seal any pitch streaks with dewaxed shellac before an epoxy pour, and expect the pale wood to amber with light.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Low decay resistance and susceptible to insects. It is one of the most stable softwoods for its weight, with low shrinkage. In Florida, keep it indoors in air conditioning and finish all faces.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Sugar pine is a carver's and pattern maker's wood, and it is great for painted furniture, drawer parts, molding and signs. Clear, wide boards are getting harder to find and cost more than common pine. It is too soft for a dining tabletop unless you like a well-worn look. We don't stock it, but ask us and we can often source it.
Common uses for Sugar Pine
Pattern making, carving, millwork, doors, sash, molding, piano keys, boxes and signs.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices. Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, though white pine blister rust has killed many trees.
Safety and toxicity
- Skin irritation
- Respiratory / asthma
Reactions are uncommon. Like other pines, the dust and resin can irritate skin and airways in some people.
- In the shop
- Dust collection and a mask when sanding
- Food contact
- Not recommended for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
Pine dust and resin can cause skin rashes or asthma-like symptoms in some people. Use dust collection and a mask when sanding.
Sugar Pine in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Sugar Pine 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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