- Species
- Pinus radiata
- Janka
- About 710 lbf
- Density
- About 485 kg/m³
- Stability
- Medium
- Relative cost
- Low
- Target moisture
- 8 to 12 percent for mouldings and furniture, set by destination climate
Materials / Softwood
Radiata Pine: Clear and Knotty Grades and How to Specify It
A fast-grown plantation softwood from New Zealand, Chile and Australia. Light, easy to machine and widely sold as clear mouldings, finger-jointed primed trim and crating stock.
Radiata pine is native to a small coastal area of California, but it is grown at large scale on plantations in New Zealand, Chile and Australia, with smaller areas elsewhere. It grows fast and the plantations are managed in rotations of around 25 to 30 years. Pruned logs give long clear lengths. That makes it one of the most traded plantation softwoods in the world.
For manufactured products, buyers use it in two ways. Clear grades, cut from pruned butt logs, become mouldings, door and window parts, picture frames and furniture parts. Lower grades and short clear pieces are finger-jointed and sold as paint grade mouldings and boards, often primed. Knotty grades go into crates, pallets, framing and rustic furniture.
It is a soft wood. Its typical Janka value is about half that of white oak, so it dents easily and is best for painted trim, hidden parts and packaging. Its main defects are blue stain from fungi, resin pockets and movement in fast-grown juvenile wood. All three are controlled by fast processing, good drying and clear grade limits.
Properties
| Janka hardness | About 710 lbf (3,160 N), typical |
| Density at 12 percent moisture | About 485 kg/m³, typical. Varies with growth rate and log position. |
| Shrinkage, green to oven dry | About 3.4 percent radial, 6.7 percent tangential, typical |
| Grain and texture | Straight grain, even medium texture, distinct growth rings |
| Color | Pale yellow to light brown heartwood, cream sapwood. Most stock is largely sapwood. |
| Natural durability | Not durable. Treated stock is needed for outdoor or ground contact use. |
| Treatability | Sapwood takes preservative treatment easily, which is why it is used for treated outdoor products |
Typical published values for wood at about 12 percent moisture. Individual boards and panels vary.
Grades you will see on a quote
The grade decides how much clear wood you pay for. Name it on the RFQ and ask for photos of what the factory calls that grade.
- Clears and moulding gradesClear, knot free stock from pruned logs. Used for stain grade mouldings, frames and furniture parts. Grade names vary by producer.
- Factory or cuttings gradesBoards with defects meant to be cut out. Cheaper per cubic meter, but yield depends on your part lengths.
- Finger-jointed clear (FJ)Short clear pieces joined end to end. Used for paint grade mouldings and boards, often supplied primed.
- Knotty or appearance gradesSound knots allowed on faces. Used for rustic furniture, paneling and shelving.
- Industrial and packaging gradesLarger knots, wane and stain allowed. Used for crates, pallets and dunnage.
- Structural gradesMachine stress graded framing, such as MGP grades in Australia and New Zealand. Not used for appearance parts.
Where radiata pine works
Products and parts where it earns its price, and where another material is the better buy.
Mouldings and trim
Clear stain grade or finger-jointed primed paint grade profiles for doors, windows and walls.
Picture and mirror frames
Clear stock that profiles and finishes cleanly at a low cost.
Furniture cores and frames
Hidden frame parts, drawer sides and upholstered frame members.
Door and window components
Finger-jointed and laminated stiles and rails for painted doors and frames.
Crates, pallets and packaging
Light, nails well and is easy to heat treat to ISPM 15 for export packaging.
Shelving and DIY boards
Edge-glued and finger-jointed panels for shelving and simple furniture.
Where it is a poor fit
- Table tops, floors and parts that take impact. The low hardness shows dents quickly.
- Outdoor or damp uses without preservative treatment. Untreated radiata pine decays.
- Dark stain finishes on large surfaces. Pine absorbs stain unevenly and can blotch without a conditioner.
In the factory
How radiata pine behaves in machining, gluing, finishing and drying. These points explain most price and quality differences between quotes.
- MachiningMachines and profiles easily with sharp tooling. Fast-grown juvenile wood can give fuzzy grain and spring after ripping.
- GluingGlues well with PVAc and finger joint adhesives. Resin on the surface weakens bonds, so glue soon after machining.
- FinishingPaints and primes well. Seal knots against resin bleed. Use a stain conditioner or gel stain for an even color.
- DryingKiln dried soon after sawing to prevent blue stain. High temperature schedules also set the resin and limit later bleed.
At each process step
- 01Kiln dryingDries fast at high temperature. Watch for resin and blue stain.
- 02Rough millingPlantation logs give many knots. Clear cuttings are taken between knots for mouldings, and knotty pieces go to hidden or rustic parts.
- 04Planing and mouldingSoft and easy to cut, but dull knives leave fuzzy grain and resin builds up on tools. Common for mouldings and frames.
- 11Inspection and packingCommon for pallets and crates. Needs ISPM 15 treatment and dry stock to avoid blue stain and mold.
Hardness compared
Radiata pine against the other solid woods buyers ask about. Hardness matters for tops, floors and parts that take knocks. For legs, frames and hidden parts, stability and price usually matter more.
- Hard maple1,450
- Beech1,450
- White oak1,360
- Ash1,320
- Red oak1,290
- Yellow birch1,260
- Acacia1,100
- Teak1,070
- Black walnut1,010
- Rubberwood980
- Cherry950
- Radiata pine710
- Poplar540
How to specify radiata pine
Example RFQ lines you can adapt.
- Radiata pine, clear moulding grade, kiln dried to 8 to 12 percent, no blue stain, no resin pockets on show faces.
- Finger-jointed radiata pine moulding, primed two coats, profile to drawing, lengths 2,400 to 5,400 mm.
- Radiata pine crate stock, ISPM 15 heat treated and stamped, blue stain allowed, no bark.
What to check on samples
Approve one sample in writing and keep it as the reference for every shipment.
- Blue stain on faces and edges against your stated limit
- Resin pockets and resin bleed on show faces after finishing
- Finger joint fit, strength and visibility through primer
- Straightness and twist on long lengths after unpacking
- Moisture readings on finished parts
- ISPM 15 stamp and treatment certificate for packaging
Alternatives to radiata pine
When price, supply or the use case points elsewhere.
- PoplarA hardwood choice for painted mouldings and parts. Harder, with less resin, at a higher price.
- MDFCheaper and dead flat for painted profiles in dry interiors. Weak in moisture and at the edges.
- RubberwoodA harder, low cost plantation hardwood for furniture parts that take more wear.
Products often made in radiata pine: panels and veneer, millwork and mouldings, wood packaging and boxes, pallets and crates.
Product lines in radiata pine: sofa frames, RTA furniture kits, edge glued panels, primed finger-jointed mouldings, wooden wine boxes.
Questions about radiata pine
Related guides:
- Radiata Pine Mouldings, Crates and Frames: Where the Species Fits
- Finger Jointed Wood: How Strong It Is and When the Joints Show
- Custom Wooden Crates: The Order Details That Prevent Re-Work
Reference: Wikipedia: Pinus radiata
Is radiata pine a hardwood or a softwood?
It is a softwood, a conifer. With a typical Janka value of about 710 lbf it is soft and dents easily, so it suits painted trim, hidden parts and packaging.
What is blue stain in radiata pine?
A gray to blue discoloration caused by fungi that grow in fresh sapwood. It does not weaken the wood much but spoils clear finishes. Fast sawing and drying prevent it. Set a limit for show faces.
Are finger-jointed pine mouldings strong enough?
For trim and painted profiles, yes, when the joints are cut and glued well. Primed finger-jointed stock is a standard product. Ask for joint fit and glue type, and avoid it for clear finishes.
Can radiata pine be used for export crates?
Yes. It is one of the most common crate species. Export packaging must be heat treated or fumigated to ISPM 15 and carry the stamp.
Why does pine bleed resin after painting?
Resin in knots and pockets moves to the surface with heat. Kiln schedules that set the resin and a knot sealer under the paint reduce it.
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