pine radiata??

[Mark Vaughn]

just saw this section of wood at home depot. does anyone know what pine radiata is? it cost a lot more than pine and looks nicer too. i'm in memphis

[Augusto Orosco]

Could it be 'quarter sawn' pine just with a fancy name?

[Mark Vaughn]

it looked like it might have been quatersawn, but i've never heard of quatersawn pine

[John-Paul Murphy]

It is a type of pine tree....radiata means symmetrical;)

[Stan Terrell]

P radiati is Monteray(sp) Pine native nto the Calf coast. It is almost a weed tree there. However when grown in the southern hemisphere it is comparable to southern yeelow pine. It is extensive planted in Aus and NZ.

Stan

[Jim Becker]

Radiata is a "pine substitute" and while native to NA, is also imported from tree farms. It's about the same color and weight as typical pine and often very clear. Nice to use for trim work that needs the "pine look" without knots, etc.

You can read more about the species at:

http://www.forest.nsw.gov.au/publication/forest_facts/pine/radiata/default.asp

[Alister Orme]

The stuff coming out of NZ and Chile is very fast growing.

I planted some in my teen years and it has been thinned and final cropped already...thats not quite thirty years.

[Quinn McCarthy]

LIke stan said There are millions of acres of radiata pine in the southern hemisphere. South America, South Africa as well as Auatralia and NZ. The southern hemisphere growth excedes the southern pine belt of the US. When you have to justify growing trees to the stock holders more wood sooner is better. That is how you maximize the value of the trees and company.

My guess is that in this global market HD is getting wood just as cheap from somewhere offshore.

Quinn
Forester by day woodworker by night.

[Ron Dunn]

Pinus Radiata is locally referred to as Pinus Crapiata. It is the cheapest rubbish-wood that is typically available across Australia.

As stated by others, it is plantation grown. Very fast growth leads to unusual grain patterns - beware of its tendency to warp, twist and cup at random, unless the grain pattern is absolutely linear.

It is a soft softwood. Planing deforms the surface rather than cutting to a high gloss. Chisels bend and deform the edge of the cut. Super-sharp tools are mandatory.

Loose knots make it a nightmare for cutting and finishing.

We only use it because it is about half the price of hardwoods.