The Tonal Quality of Coarse-Grained Sitka Spruce (Picea Sitchensis) Grown on Haida Gwaii, Near Awun Lake British Columbia, Canada

FPInnovations Western Region 2665 East Mall Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1W5

The Tonal Quality of Coarse-Grained Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) Grown on Haida Gwaii, near Awun Lake British Columbia, Canada

Prepared for:

PACIFIC RIM TONEWOODS INC. P.O. Box 2009 Concrete, WA 98237

Les Jozsa Research Scientist Emeritus FPInnovations

March 2012

Les Jozsa Dave McRae Roland Baumeister Project Leader First Nations Liaison Manager, Western Regional Industry Advisor Delivery

Notice

Neither FPInnovations, nor its members, nor any other persons acting on its behalf, make any warranty, express or implied, or assume any legal responsibility or liability for the completeness of any information, apparatus, product or process disclosed, or represent that the use of the disclosed information would not infringe upon privately owned rights. Any reference in this report to any specific commercial product, process or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer or otherwise does not constitute or imply its endorsement by FPInnovations or any of its members.

No part of this published Work may be reproduced, published, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, whether or not in translated form, without the prior written permission of FPInnovations, except that members of FPInnovations in good standing shall be permitted to reproduce all or part of this Work for their own use but not for resale, rental or otherwise for profit, and only if FPInnovations is identified in a prominent location as the source of the publication or portion thereof, and only so long as such members remain in good standing.

The Tonal Quality of Coarse-Grained Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) Grown at Haida Gwaii, Near Awun Lake, British Columbia, Canada Confidential

Acknowledgements

I thank Mr. Steve McMinn of Pacific Rim Tonewoods Inc., Concrete, WA, USA, for obtaining and cutting “FSC Certified” Sitka spruce test material for this study, grown on Haida Gwaii, near Awun Lake, British Columbia.

I want to also thank and acknowledge a number of my colleagues at FPInnovations Wood Products Division, Vancouver, B.C., without whose help I could not have completed this study: Paul Symons, Isaac Chiu for the Engineering testing, Bill Deacon for the data presentation and analysis, and Aurora Semilla for report preparation.

In addition, I would like to thank Dr. Robert W. Kennedy, Dean Emeritus, Faculty of Forestry, UBC, and Mr. Roland Baumeister, Manager of Value-Added, FPInnovations Wood Products Division, Vancouver, B.C., for reading the manuscript and offering valuable comments.

Funding for this work was jointly provided by the BC First Nations Forest Sector Technical Support Program, and Mr. Steve McMinn of Pacific Rim Tonewoods Inc.

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The Tonal Quality of Coarse-Grained Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) Grown at Haida Gwaii, Near Awun Lake, British Columbia, Canada Confidential

Summary

The purpose of this project was to determine the tonal quality of Sitka spruce, grown on Haida Gwaii, near Awun Lake, in British Columbia. In one stand, a variety of growth rates were available from trees 167 to 600 years of age: 1) coarse-grain (5 to 8 rings per inch); 2) medium-grain (10 to 15 rings per inch); and 3) fine-grain (about 20 or more rings per inch).

Small clear wood samples in a cruciform (cross-like) sampling pattern were obtained. The compass orientation of the cruciform was randomly selected, and then adjusted to avoid knots and other grain disturbances. Small clear wood specimens were obtained at one-quarter radius intervals for mechanical tests and density determination. Each specimen was machined to 1.25 x 1.25 x 20” (3.2 x 3.2 x 51 cm) dimension, and was identified with a sample number. The test material was conditioned to 12% moisture content.

The modulus of elasticity (MOE) was determined in static bending, in accordance with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D143 protocol, for each of the 114 test fingers, and on average it was 11,950 Megapascals (Mpa), ranging from 8,000 to 15,600 Mpa.

The wood density was measured on a small sub-sample from each specimen, after measuring MOE, according to well-established laboratory procedures, on an oven-dry weight and oven-dry volume basis, and on average it was 0.42, ranging from 0.31 to 0.53.

The ability to resonate (ATR) was calculated for each of the 114 test fingers, using MOE and wood density data. Average ATR was 420, ranging from 300 to 500.

Hardness was measured on the flat grain, using the Janka method (ASTM D1037 protocol) at three locations for each test finger, by embedding a “ball” 0.444” (11.3mm) in diameter to one half of its diameter (“equator”). Hardness values were on average 550 lbs (250 kg), ranging from 350 to 830 pounds (159 to 377 kg).

The Tonal Quality of Coarse-Grained Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) Grown at Haida Gwaii, Near Awun Lake, British Columbia, Canada Confidential

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements ...... iii List of Tables ...... vi List of Figures ...... vi 1 Introduction ...... 1 2 Objective ...... 1 3 Background ...... 1 3.1 Range of Sitka Spruce in B. C...... 1 3.2 Mechanical Properties of Wood ...... 2 3.2.1 Microfibril Angle ...... 2 3.2.2 Strength and Stiffness ...... 2 3.2.3 Wood Density...... 2 3.2.4 Hardness ...... 3 4 Methods ...... 3 4.1 Log Selection and Sampling...... 3 4.2 Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) of Small Clears ...... 4 4.3 Rate of Growth (Average Ring Width) ...... 4 4.4 The Ability to Resonate (ATR) ...... 4 4.5 Hardness ...... 5 5 Results ...... 5 6 Old-Growth Reference Values for 14 British Columbia Softwoods ...... 5 7 Conclusions and Recommendations ...... 6 8 References ...... 7

The Tonal Quality of Coarse-Grained Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) Grown at Haida Gwaii, Near Awun Lake, British Columbia, Canada Confidential

List of Tables

Table 1. Old-Growth Relative Density and Modulus of Elasticity Reference Values for some British Columbia 1 2 Softwoods (Jessome, 1977) and their Ability to Resonate ...... 6

List of Figures

Figure 1. Sitka spruce logs and bolts from Awun Lake, Haida Gwaii, Taan Forest Products, in the log-yard of Pacific Rim Tonewoods...... 8 Figure 2. Sitka spruce log No. 1 from Awun Lake, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada. This log had, on the average, 2.9 mm wide rings, or about 9 rings per inch...... 9 Figure 3. Sitka spruce log No. 5 from Awun Lake, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada. This log had, on average, 3.1 mm wide rings, or about 8 rings per inch...... 10 Figure 4. Sitka spruce log No. 10 from Awun Lake, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada. This log had, on average, 2.36 mm wide rings, or about 11 rings per inch ...... 11 Figure 5. Sitka spruce log No. 3 from Awun Lake, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada. This log had, on average, 0.72 mm wide rings, or about 35 rings per inch...... 12 Figure 6. Subsample wedges split from study logs, ensuring perfect vertical grain orientation...... 13 Figure 7. Tone-wood test fingers are ready for the conditioning chamber to achieve 12 % Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC)...... 14 Figure 8. End-grain of 114 test fingers, from 12 logs, with fine-, average-, and course-grain; average ring width ranged from 0.72 mm (35 rings per inch), to 4.55 mm (6 rings per inch)...... 15 Figure 9. One of 114 test fingers being tested for Modulus Of Elasticity (MOE) at FPInnovations – Wood Products Division, Vancouver Laboratory...... 16 Figure 10. Janka hardness probe, measuring 0.444” (11.3mm) in diameter...... 17 Figure 11. MOE, Relative Density, and the Ability to Resonate for Log No.1, with an average ring width of 2.9 mm, or 9 rings per inch...... 18 Figure 12. MOE, Relative Density, and the Ability to Resonate for Log No.2, with an average ring width of 1.11 mm, or 23 rings per inch...... 19 Figure 13. MOE, Relative Density, and the Ability to Resonate for Log No.3, with an average ring width of 0.72 mm, or 35 rings per inch...... 20 Figure 14. MOE, Relative Density, and the Ability to Resonate for Log No.4, with an average ring width of 4.55 mm, or 6 rings per inch...... 21 Figure 15. MOE, Relative Density, and the Ability to Resonate for Log No. 5, with an average ring width of 2.9 mm, or 8 rings per inch...... 22 Figure 16. MOE, Relative Density, and the Ability to Resonate for Log No. 6, with an average ring width of 3.03 mm, or 8 rings per inch...... 23 Figure 17. MOE, Relative Density, and the Ability to Resonate for Log No.7, with an average ring width of 2.93 mm, or 9 rings per inch...... 24 Figure 18. MOE, Relative Density, and the Ability to Resonate for Log No.8, with an average ring width of 2.31mm, or 11 rings per inch...... 25

The Tonal Quality of Coarse-Grained Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) Grown at Haida Gwaii, Near Awun Lake, British Columbia, Canada Confidential

Figure 19. MOE, Relative Density, and the Ability to Resonate for Log No.10, with an average ring width of 2.36 mm, or 11 rings per inch...... 26 Figure 20. MOE, Relative Density, and the Ability to Resonate for Log No.11, with an average ring width of 2.78 mm, or 9 rings per inch...... 27 Figure 21. MOE, Relative Density, and the Ability to Resonate for Log No.12, with an average ring width of 0.87mm, or 29 rings per inch...... 28 Figure 22. MOE, Relative Density, and the Ability to Resonate for Log No. 14, with an average ring width of 1.07 mm, or 24 rings per inch...... 29 Figure 23. The Ability to Resonate, and Hardness, plotted as a function of ring width (mm), for all 114 test fingers. Please note that 3.2 mm ring width corresponds to about 8 rings per inch (2 mm = 17rings per inch, and 1mm = 25 rings per inch)...... 30

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1 Introduction Wood is sometimes used as a source of sound. One example is the xylophone, which is a musical instrument made of wooden bars of varying size. Musical sounds are produced by striking the bars with a suitable wooden (or metallic) mallet. In some old monasteries and village churches, wooden slabs are used instead of bells, to produce sounds by rhythmic striking.

The pitch (or tone) of sound, whether low or high, depends on the frequency of vibration. Frequency is affected by the dimension, density, and elasticity (modulus of elasticity - MOE) of a particular wooden member. For example, smaller dimensions, lower moisture content, and higher MOE produce sounds of higher pitch.

Sound waves can originate from other sources. When such sound waves reach the wood, part of the acoustical energy is reflected and part enters the wood's mass. In such cases the wood vibrates, and the original sound wave is intensified (or subjected to partial or total absorption). Intensification of sound takes place when wood is used as a resonator.

The performance of a wooden resonator is affected by the frequency of vibration, shape of the resonator, and the condition of the surface of wood. For example, a lacquered surface has a favorable effect. A resonator does not change the pitch of the original sound, but it can intensify it (make it louder), and increase its duration (Tsoumis, G. 1991).

Wood is used as a resonator in stringed instruments. There is a preference for spruce wood because it has a high MOE in relation to its density (Hoyle, R.J. 1975). There is a preference for straight-grained, radially sawn wood (vertical grain), homogeneous in structure, with narrow growth rings (up to 2 mm) and low proportion of latewood (less than 25%). Also, such wood should be from old trees (130-150 years in age), and with a diameter greater than 40 cm (16 in) (Knigge, W., and H. Schulz. 1966; Krzysik. F. 1967)).

2 Objective The objective of this study is to examine the resonating quality of BC Sitka spruce, grown in Haida Gwaii, near Awun Lake, British Columbia, Canada, and to see if old-growth fine-grain wood values hold true in medium and coarse grained wood as well. This species is a high-value specialty product in the value added industry, with log prices ranging from $ 450 to $ 600 per cubic meter.

3 Background 3.1 Range of Sitka Spruce in B. C. Sitka spruce is a large tree that commonly grows up to 70 meters (230’) tall and 2 meters (6.5’) across. This species grows along the BC coast in a narrow band from sea level to about 700 meters (2300’). It is most common along the coastal fog-belt and river flood plains.

Pacific Rim Tonewoods Inc., Concrete, WA, USA, utilizes “FSC Certified” Sitka spruce wood grown on Haida Gwaii, near Awun Lake, British Columbia. Because of the excellent growing conditions (rich soil,

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plenty of water, and mild temperature), the annual rings can be very wide, which is seen as “coarse grain” in guitar tops. For these reasons it is not uncommon to have tone-wood with as few as 5 to 8 rings per inch.

3.2 Mechanical Properties of Wood 3.2.1 Microfibril Angle FPInnovations scientists and others have found that Interior spruce and Sitka spruce wood is unusually strong for its density, which makes it suitable for structural applications where weight is a limiting factor. This has been linked to the exceptional microfibril angle orientation of individual wood fibers in spruce.

Wood fibers are made of organic building blocks (45% cellulose, 27% hemicellulose, and 28% lignin) precisely arranged in the fiber-wall. The layering is not unlike the different layers on an onion. The outer brown layer is analogous to the lignin-rich middle lamella, which not only binds wood fibers together, but also imparts rigidity to wood. From the outside looking in, the next layer is the primary wall, a loose and random weaving of fiber-glass-like cellulosic microfibrils , intermixed with lignin. The next layer is the secondary wall, and its dominant S2 layer, 3 to 15 times thicker than all the other layers combined. The S2 layer is a compendium of closely packed cellulosic microfibrils, oriented nearly parallel with the fiber axis. In normal mature wood the microfibril orientation is 10 degrees or less in relation to the fiber axis, and in spruce even less. Much of the variation in wood strength, stiffness, dimensional stability, and fracture-failure morphology can be related to variations in the microfibril angle of the S2 layer.

In summary, microfibril angle has macro implications due to the anisotropic (having physical properties depending on direction) nature of wood (Jozsa and Middleton 1994).

3.2.2 Strength and Stiffness The terms strength and stiffness can be somewhat confusing to the novice musical instrument builder, but easily understood with a simple demonstration. Take one 8-foot long 2x4 and place it with its flat face on two chairs about 6-7 feet apart. Measure the distance between the floor and the 2x4 at mid-span. Carefully, step up onto the middle of the board and note the deflection under your weight. This deflection is an indication of the stiffness of the wood in the 2x4. Of course, a heavier piece would bend less under one's body-weight than a lighter piece. If, while still standing on the 2x4, one were to place additional weights onto the middle until the board broke, that final total weight would be the ultimate breaking strength.

In this study MOE was measured on a 17.5 in. (44.5 cm) span, by applying a load of 161 lbs (73 kg) at the mid-span of each 1.25 x 1.25 x 20 in. (3.2 x 3.2 x 51 cm) test finger, and recording the deflection of the neutral plane (through half the thickness of the test beam).

3.2.3 Wood Density Wood density is one of the most important indicators of wood quality because of its relationship to other key physical properties that make wood suitable for a variety of uses (Gonzalez 1990). By definition, density is the mass contained in a unit volume of a material, and relative density is the ratio of the density of the material to the density of water. In the metric system, density is measured in grams per cubic

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centimeter (g/cm3), or kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m3). Water has a density of 1 g/cm3, or 1000 kg/m3. Wood weighing 0.4 g/cm3 is thus four-tenths as heavy as water, and has a relative density of 0.4. In experiments dealing with tree and wood samples, relative density is usually expressed on an oven-dry weight and green-volume basis. However, in engineering tests (like in this study) oven-dry weight and oven-dry volume are used. The practical reason for this is that these conditions are easily reproduced.

Wood density measurements through the last 50 years have established standard reference values for all commercially important tree species. For example, one can find the following average densities (based on oven-dry weight and oven-dry volume, a preference used by the engineers) for Sitka spruce 0.39, white spruce 0.40, and Engelmann spruce 0.42. Because of the time of these determinations and the nature of the sample material, these values are essentially old-growth reference values. It is noteworthy that in British Columbia the average density of softwoods ranges from 0.36 (western red cedar and sub-alpine fir) to 0.65 (western larch) on an oven-dry weight and oven-dry volume basis.

Researchers have investigated wood density variation within the stem, from pith-to-bark, and from stump- to-top of the tree. In general, they found that beyond the initial shifts in density levels for the first 30-40 years, it remained relatively constant in old growth wood.

3.2.4 Hardness

The Janka Hardness Scale is a measurement of the force necessary to embed a .444-inch (11.28 mm) steel ball to half its diameter in wood. It is the flooring industry standard for gauging the ability of various species to tolerate denting and normal wear. In addition, hardness is a good indicator of the effort required to work (nail, saw, carve, etc.) a particular wood. 4 Methods 4.1 Log Selection and Sampling To investigate the Ability to Resonate (ATR) of Sitka spruce, grown on Haida Gwaii, near Awun Lake, samples were taken from one stand where a variety of growth rates was known to exist. Sample trees with similar form were available from 200 to 600 years of age and in three different growth classes:

1) coarse-grain (5 to 8 rings per inch) 2) medium-grain (10 to 15 rings per inch) 3) fine-grain (about 20 rings per inch)

Sample material was cut from butt logs, about 20 feet (6 m) above the stump, in order to avoid butt swell.

Figures 1 to 5 show Sitka spruce logs, bolts, and log cross sections in the log-yard of Pacific Rim Tonewoods. Even growth rate is evident, without much variation in ring width, from pith-to-bark.

Figure 6 shows subsample wedges, split from study logs. Painted end grain prevents rapid drying and shrinkage cracks.

Figure 7 shows stickered tonewood test fingers, ready for the conditioning chamber, to achieve 12% EMC.

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Figure 8 shows the end-grain of 114 test fingers, from 12 logs, with fine-, average-, and coarse-grain pattern. A one-inch reference bar was drawn on each finger, with the number of rings/inch written on top.

Small clear wood specimens at one-quarter radius intervals were obtained, three samples per radius, in a cruciform (cross-like) sampling pattern. Each specimen was to be machined to 1.25 x 1.25 x 20 in. (3.2 x 3.2 x 51 cm) dimension, and was marked with a sample number.

4.2 Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) of Small Clears Small clear wood specimens, measuring 1.25 x 1.25 x 20 in., were obtained at one-quarter radius intervals for measuring MOE and wood density. Figure 7 shows about 200 small clear test fingers being conditioned to 12% moisture content. The final actual number of specimens tested was 114 because some of the samples contained defects such as knots, decay, and ring shake (mostly near the pith).

MOE was determined in static bending in accordance with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D143 protocol. Figure 9 shows a technologist preparing a test specimen for static bending test by marking the reaction points (supports) with finishing nails 17.5 in. apart, and placing the spigot into the neutral axis at mid span (directly below the load point). Small clear test specimens were placed onto the test frame with the tangential surface (flat grain) nearer to the bark resting on the supports, as shown in Figure 9.

Figure 9 presents a close-up view of the test specimen with the black yoke resting on the two finishing nails directly above reaction points (supports), with the transducer in contact with the spigot, a metal blade, driven into the neutral plane, directly below the central load point. The load was applied at the rate of one-tenth of an inch per minute, starting at 40 pounds (18 kg) and going up to 140 pounds (63.5 kg). At maximum load the deflection was in the order of 0.06 in (0.15 cm).

Wood density was measured on a small sub-sample from each specimen after measuring MOE, on an oven-dry weight and oven-dry volume basis according to well-established laboratory procedures.

4.3 Rate of Growth (Average Ring Width) Average ring width was determined for each of the 114 specimens, by dividing 32 mm (specimen depth) by the number of rings on each cross section. Sanding the end-grain smooth helped with the ring count. Photocopy images were prepared and arranged systematically pith-to-bark for the north, east, south, and west radii. These images allowed sample number, number of annual rings, and the average ring width on the end-grain to be compared with MOE, wood density, and ATR. For quick reference, a one-inch- interval was marked on each sample, with the number of rings per inch written on top.

4.4 The Ability to Resonate (ATR) In the musical-instrument building industry, researchers have established the importance of MOE and wood density (Krzysik 1967, Ono 1983). They have developed the following equation for selecting suitable woods, by calculating the acoustical coefficient; also known as the ability to resonate (ATR):

ATR = Square root of (MOE/ wood density3)

The ATR for all test samples was calculated using this formula.

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4.5 Hardness

Hardness was measured on the tangential surface (flat grain) nearer to the pith at three locations on each sample, using the Janka method (ASTM D1037 protocol). 5 Results Figure 14 shows the test results for the most rapidly grown tree, log No. 4, with an average ring width of 4.55 mm, which works out to 6 rings per inch. The ATR values are in the mid- to high-400’s for all 7 test fingers, surpassing the old-growth reference value of 428 ATR, as shown in Table 1. The photographic image of the end-grain indicates even growth rate, with annual rings less than 25% latewood (dark vertical lines).

Figures 22 and 12 show two logs, No. 14 and No. 2, with old-growth like growth rate, on average 1.07 and 1.11 mm wide rings (about 23-24 rings/inch), whose ATR is only about 400.

Figures 21 and 13 represent the two slowest growing samples, log No. 12 and No. 3, with 0.72 and 0.87 average ring width (29 and 35 rings/inch). Their corresponding ATR values were in the high to mid 300’s, which are the lowest of all 12 log samples.

Figures 18 and 20 show the test results for log No. 11 and log No. 8, with 2.31 and 2.78 mm average ring width (9 and 11 rings/inch). Their ATR was about 400.

Figures 11, 15, 16, and 17 present the remaining 5 log samples, whose average ring width was 2.3 to 2.8 mm (11 to 9 rings/inch), and their ATR was in the mid 400’s.

Figure 22 shows ATR and Hardness for all 114 test fingers, plotted as a function of ring width. Please note that 3.2 mm ring width corresponds to 8 rings per inch, and nearly all test fingers at this growth rate, and over, had ATR values over 400.

Hardness values were on average 550 pounds (250 kg), ranging from 350 to 830 pounds (159 to 377 kg), as shown in Figure 23. Slower growth rate, like 25 rings per inch (1 mm wide rings and less), had an average hardness of 630 lbs (286 kg), ranging from 440 to 830 lbs (200 to 376 kg). Rapid growth rate, with 8 to 4 rings per inch, resulted in average hardness of 480 lbs (218 kg), and ranging from 340 to 690 lbs (154 to 313 kg).

6 Old-Growth Reference Values for 14 British Columbia Softwoods Table 1 presents the ATR values for 14 British Columbia softwoods, which were calculated from published old-growth reference values for relative density and MOE. To avoid any confusion associated with common names, the scientific Latin names are listed as well. A number of ATR values are noteworthy. First, white spruce ATR value is exactly the same as the overall average in this study. Engelmann spruce was 373, while Sitka spruce was 428. Of course, the biggest surprise was sub-alpine

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fir, with the highest ATR value at 470. Not surprisingly, western red cedar just about matched the highest value at 463. Amabilis fir and white pine matched the spruce ATR's.

Table 1. Old-Growth Relative Density and Modulus of Elasticity Reference Values for some British 1 2 Columbia Softwoods (Jessome, 1977) and their Ability to Resonate .

Number of Relative Modulus of Ability to Common Name Scientific Name Trees Density Elasticity 2 Tested (Oven-dry) (Mpa) Resonate Cedar, western red Thuja plicata 12 0.338 8,270 463 Chamaecyparis Cypress, yellow 17 0.462 11,000 334 nootkatensis Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii 78 0.510 13,500 319 Fir, sub-alpine Abies lasiocarpa 11 0.360 10,300 470 Fir, amabilis Abies amabilis 26 0.412 11,400 404 Hemlock, western Tsuga heterophylla 21 0.470 12,300 344 Larch, western Larix occidentalis 17 0.640 14,300 234 Pinus contorta var. Pine, lodgepole 13 0.455 10,900 335 latifolia Pine, western white Pinus monticola 17 0.398 10,100 400 Pine, ponderosa Pinus ponderosa 17 0.489 9,510 313 Spruce, black Picea mariana 32 0.445 10,400 343 Spruce, Engelmann Picea Engelmannii 11 0.425 10,700 373 Spruce, Sitka Picea sitchensis 14 0.394 11,200 428 Spruce, white Picea glauca 43 0.393 9,930 404 ______1) Jessome, A. P. 1977. Strength and Related Properties of Woods Grown in Canada. Dep. Fish. and Env. Can., For. Prod. Lab., Ottawa, ON. Forestry Technical Report 21. 2) The Ability to Resonate is calculated as the square-root of MOE/relative density cubed. The higher the value, the greater the ability to resonate

7 Conclusions and Recommendations The study identifies a reproducible scientific method for measuring ATR. The study also demonstrates that in these rapidly growing Coastal Sitka spruce trees, rapid growth had no negative impact on ATR. There is no difference in the pith-to-bark trend in ATR, therefore, all parts of the log are suitable for tonewood production. In some of the logs, relatively low ATR values are caused by higher than average wood density, which is related to slow growth rate. High relative wood density is also associated with higher than average latewood content.

The tonewood industry could benefit from trying other BC species with relatively high ATR values. Table 1 suggests that western red cedar, sub-alpine fir, amabilis fir and white spruce show promise. Appearance should also be considered, since some of tonewood possibilities tend to have bark inclusions.

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8 References

Gonzalez, J. 1990. Wood Density of Canadian Tree Species. For. Can., Edmonton, AB. Inf. Rep. NOR- X-315.

Hosie, R.C. 1973. Native Trees of Canada. 7th Edition. Dep. Of Environ. Can. For. Serv., Ottawa, Ont. 380p.

Hoyle, R.J. 1975. Physical Character of Wood. In- Wood Structure, pp. 1-31. New York: Am. Soc. Civil Engineers (ASCE).

Jessome, A.P. 1977. Strength and Related Properties of Woods Grown in Canada. Eastern Forest Products Laboratory Technical report 21: Ottawa.

Jozsa, L.A. and G.R. Middleton. 1994. A Discussion of Wood Quality Attributes and their Practical Implications. Forintek Canada Corp. Spec. Pub. No. SP-34. Can.-BC Part. Agmt. For. Res. Dev.: FRDA II. BC Min. of For. Victoriaa, BC, 42p.

Knigge, W., and H. Schulz. 1966. Grundriss der Forstbenutzung. Hamburg: P. Parrey.

Krzysik, F. 1967. Untersuchungen uber den Einfluss der Rohdichte auf die Verwendungsmoglichkeit von Fichtenklangholz. Holz Roh- Werkst. 25(1):37.

Tsoumis, G. 1991. Science and Technology of Wood- Structure, Properties, Utilization. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.

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Figure 1. Sitka spruce logs and bolts from Awun Lake, Haida Gwaii, Taan Forest Products, in the log-yard of Pacific Rim Tonewoods.

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Figure 2. Sitka spruce log No. 1 from Awun Lake, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada. This log had, on the average, 2.9 mm wide rings, or about 9 rings per inch.

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Figure 3. Sitka spruce log No. 5 from Awun Lake, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada. This log had, on average, 3.1 mm wide rings, or about 8 rings per inch.

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Figure 4. Sitka spruce log No. 10 from Awun Lake, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada. This log had, on average, 2.36 mm wide rings, or about 11 rings per inch

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Figure 5. Sitka spruce log No. 3 from Awun Lake, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada. This log had, on average, 0.72 mm wide rings, or about 35 rings per inch.

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Figure 6. Subsample wedges split from study logs, ensuring perfect vertical grain orientation.

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The Tonal Quality of Coarse-Grained Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) Grown at Haida Gwaii, Near Awun Lake, British Columbia, Canada Confidential

Figure 7. Tone-wood test fingers are ready for the conditioning chamber to achieve 12 % Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC).

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The Tonal Quality of Coarse-Grained Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) Grown at Haida Gwaii, Near Awun Lake, British Columbia, Canada Confidential

Figure 8. End-grain of 114 test fingers, from 12 logs, with fine-, average-, and course-grain; average ring width ranged from 0.72 mm (35 rings per inch), to 4.55 mm (6 rings per inch).

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The Tonal Quality of Coarse-Grained Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) Grown at Haida Gwaii, Near Awun Lake, British Columbia, Canada Confidential

Figure 9. One of 114 test fingers being tested for Modulus Of Elasticity (MOE) at FPInnovations – Wood Products Division, Vancouver Laboratory.

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The Tonal Quality of Coarse-Grained Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) Grown at Haida Gwaii, Near Awun Lake, British Columbia, Canada Confidential

Figure 10. Janka hardness probe, measuring 0.444” (11.3mm) in diameter.

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The Tonal Quality of Coarse-Grained Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) Grown at Haida Gwaii, Near Awun Lake, British Columbia, Canada Confidential

Pith ...... Bark

Pith ...... Bark Figure 11. MOE, Relative Density, and the Ability to Resonate for Log No.1, with an average ring width of 2.9 mm, or 9 rings per inch.

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The Tonal Quality of Coarse-Grained Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) Grown at Haida Gwaii, Near Awun Lake, British Columbia, Canada Confidential

Pith ...... Bark

Figure 12. MOE, Relative Density, and the Ability to Resonate for Log No.2, with an average ring width of 1.11 mm, or 23 rings per inch.

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The Tonal Quality of Coarse-Grained Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) Grown at Haida Gwaii, Near Awun Lake, British Columbia, Canada Confidential

Pith ...... Bark

Figure 13. MOE, Relative Density, and the Ability to Resonate for Log No.3, with an average ring width of 0.72 mm, or 35 rings per inch.

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The Tonal Quality of Coarse-Grained Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) Grown at Haida Gwaii, Near Awun Lake, British Columbia, Canada Confidential

Pith ...... Bark

Figure 14. MOE, Relative Density, and the Ability to Resonate for Log No.4, with an average ring width of 4.55 mm, or 6 rings per inch.

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The Tonal Quality of Coarse-Grained Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) Grown at Haida Gwaii, Near Awun Lake, British Columbia, Canada Confidential

Pith ...... Bark

Pith ...... Bark Figure 15. MOE, Relative Density, and the Ability to Resonate for Log No. 5, with an average ring width of 2.9 mm, or 8 rings per inch.

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The Tonal Quality of Coarse-Grained Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) Grown at Haida Gwaii, Near Awun Lake, British Columbia, Canada Confidential

Pith ...... Bark

Figure 16. MOE, Relative Density, and the Ability to Resonate for Log No. 6, with an average ring width of 3.03 mm, or 8 rings per inch.

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The Tonal Quality of Coarse-Grained Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) Grown at Haida Gwaii, Near Awun Lake, British Columbia, Canada Confidential

Pith ...... Bark

Figure 17. MOE, Relative Density, and the Ability to Resonate for Log No.7, with an average ring width of 2.93 mm, or 9 rings per inch.

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The Tonal Quality of Coarse-Grained Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) Grown at Haida Gwaii, Near Awun Lake, British Columbia, Canada Confidential

Pith ...... Bark

Pith...... Bark

Figure 18. MOE, Relative Density, and the Ability to Resonate for Log No.8, with an average ring width of 2.31mm, or 11 rings per inch.

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The Tonal Quality of Coarse-Grained Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) Grown at Haida Gwaii, Near Awun Lake, British Columbia, Canada Confidential

...... Pith ...... Bark

Pith ...... Bark

Figure 19. MOE, Relative Density, and the Ability to Resonate for Log No.10, with an average ring width of 2.36 mm, or 11 rings per inch.

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The Tonal Quality of Coarse-Grained Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) Grown at Haida Gwaii, Near Awun Lake, British Columbia, Canada Confidential

Pith ...... Bark

Pith ...... Bark Figure 20. MOE, Relative Density, and the Ability to Resonate for Log No.11, with an average ring width of 2.78 mm, or 9 rings per inch.

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The Tonal Quality of Coarse-Grained Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) Grown at Haida Gwaii, Near Awun Lake, British Columbia, Canada Confidential

Pith ...... Bark

Pith ...... Bark Figure 21. MOE, Relative Density, and the Ability to Resonate for Log No.12, with an average ring width of 0.87mm, or 29 rings per inch.

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The Tonal Quality of Coarse-Grained Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) Grown at Haida Gwaii, Near Awun Lake, British Columbia, Canada Confidential

Pith ...... Bark

Figure 22. MOE, Relative Density, and the Ability to Resonate for Log No. 14, with an average ring width of 1.07 mm, or 24 rings per inch.

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The Tonal Quality of Coarse-Grained Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) Grown at Haida Gwaii, Near Awun Lake, British Columbia, Canada Confidential

Figure 23. The Ability to Resonate, and Hardness, plotted as a function of ring width (mm), for all 114 test fingers. Please note that 3.2 mm ring width corresponds to about 8 rings per inch (2 mm = 17rings per inch, and 1mm = 25 rings per inch).

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