WOOD FLOORINGS - Heart Pine

Heart Pine Pinus spp Availability: Limited. Sample is 3/4-by-3-inch square-edge solid strip. Top portion is finished with water-base urethane; bottom with oil-modified polyurethane.

COLOR: Heartwood is yellow after cutting and turns deep pinkish tan to warm reddish brown within weeks due to high resin content. Sapwood remains yellow with occasional blue-black sap stain.

GRAIN: Dense, with high figuring. Plainsawn is swirled; rift- or quartersawn is primarily pinstriped. Curly or burl grain is rare.

VARIATIONS WITHIN SPECIES AND GRADES: Moderate color variation.

SAWING/MACHINING: Good machining and handtooling qualities.
SANDING: Tendency to clog paper due to high resin content; begin with coarse grade.
NAILING: Good holding ability.
FINISHING: Accepts both surface and penetrating finishes. Some stains may blotch; raising grain first may help. To reduce the wood's tendency to repel finish coats, surface resins may be removed with a solvent that is compatible with the finish to be used.