Origin
The common fir tree or white fir is a tree that receives its scientific name of Abies alba. It grows up across the mountainsides of the centre and the north of Europe, between the 700m and 2000m of altitude, although in some south countries there are also some copies. In Spain there are some species in the regions of Cantabria, Huesca, Navarra and the north of Cataluña.
Colour
Its bark is silver grey colour, smooth in the youngest copies and with wrinkles in the oldest. Spruce wood is white, light, slightly resinous and very agreeable to work it out.
Texture
Spruce wood is a fine material, with uniform texture and with a straight vein, which allows the worker to treat it properly and glue it easily, while when it gets died, it can show some stains or inconsistencies due to its structure of closed pore.
Durability
It needs fresh environments and wet weathers, although it does not stand the intense cold neither long droughts. Thus, spruce wood does not stand extreme temperatures when it is used for exteriors. It is a rich wood in tannins and quite little gopher, though, which makes easier its manual job for fine cabinetry or objects with a stylish look.
Features
The spruce tree has a pyramidal form and it can reach the 60 altitude meters. Its leaves can measure up to 30cm and its seeds are the pines.
Applications
Spruce wood is used especially in construction sector, in fine cabinetry, to make musical instruments such as guitars or bows, as well as papermaking. Also, it is used for interior woodwork elements such as coatings, friezes, fences, mouldings and baseboards, in the form of laminated wood (beams). Spruce wood is equally worthy to make decorative veneers, decorative or select containers and packaging.