Cedar lumber collection
Closest Kingma softwood/outdoor path when an exact listing is not available.
View optionRed Spruce Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Softwood lumber species
Red Spruce is best understood by how it looks, how it works, and where it should be used. This guide explains the practical buying details before sending you to the right Kingma products.
Scientific namePicea rubens
Janka hardness490 lbf
Average dried weight27 lb/ft³
Best fitChristmas trees
Overview
Why choose Red Spruce?
Red Spruce is a softwood lumber species. Grows in eastern North America. Common uses include Christmas trees, musical instrument soundboards, crates, millwork, construction lumber and pulpwood for paper.
Scientific namePicea rubens
DistributionGrows in eastern North America
ShrinkageRadial: 3.8%, Tangential: 7.8%, Volumetric: 11.8%, T/R Ratio: 2.1
DurabilityDecay resistance of the heartwood is poor, rated from slightly resistant down to not resistant.
Red Spruce colour, grain, and figure
The wood is normally creamy white, tinged with yellow or red.
The texture is fine and even, and the grain is consistently straight.
Working notes
Easy to work provided no knots are in the way. It glues and finishes well, but stain can go on blotchy and uneven because of the closed pores.
Spruces in the Picea genus are reported sensitizers, although severe reactions are uncommon.
Red Spruce should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Red Spruce
Best projects
Common uses include Christmas trees, musical instrument soundboards, crates, millwork, construction lumber and pulpwood for paper.
Use caution
Avoid specifying it by name alone; confirm board size, moisture, colour, figure, and the project environment before buying.
Finish strategy
Test finishes on offcuts first, especially when colour, blotching, outdoor exposure, or grain filling matters.
Buying note
Choose boards, slabs, plywood, blanks, or posts based on the project rather than species name alone.
Shop path
Buying Red Spruce from Kingma
Start with the direct species match when Kingma sells it. If stock rotates, use the closest live collection or a clearly explained alternative.
White Oak lumber collection
A harder outdoor-aware hardwood alternative when the project calls for durability rather than softwood character.
View optionSimilar woods and alternatives
If Kingma does not have an exact match online, use the buying links below as practical alternatives only when the colour, grain, hardness, or project environment makes sense.
Red Spruce FAQ
What is Red Spruce best used for?
Common uses include Christmas trees, musical instrument soundboards, crates, millwork, construction lumber and pulpwood for paper. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Red Spruce beginner friendly?
It depends on density, grain direction, and tooling. Test cuts on offcuts first, and choose Maple, Cherry, Walnut, or Poplar when easier machining is the priority.
Does Kingma sell Red Spruce?
The buying section on this page links to any Red Spruce Kingma has in stock and to the closest alternatives. Stock changes often, so call (780) 229-7681 or visit the yard at 4607 91 Ave NW, Edmonton to check what is in today.