Radiata pine

Overview

A fast-growing plantation pine from the southern hemisphere, nearly knot-free in its clear grades and very uniform. It is the pine behind much of the world's moulding, plywood, "Pinus" shelving boards and finger-jointed stock. Pick it for paint-grade work where consistent, clear, cheap timber matters more than character.

Pros

• Works well with hand and machine tools; glues and finishes well (Wood Database).
• Consistent, mostly knot-free plantation boards with very wide growth rings.
• Hard for a pine: Janka 710 lbf.
• Cheap and plentiful.

Cons

• Heartwood is non-durable to perishable (Wood Database); sapwood is readily treated.
• Wide pale sapwood and fast-grown wood can be soft and warp-prone.
• Blotches under pigment stain.
• Can have resin pockets and a plain look.

Variants and subspecies

• Plantation stock from Chile, Australia and New Zealand (Wood Database): much the same wood from each.
• Clear / finger-jointed: common for mouldings and shelf boards.
• Native Monterey pine is a tiny natural population in California.

Working and finishing

Easy to machine; its softness and large rings can fuzz with dull tools. Pre-drill and use sharp cutters. Glues and finishes well.

Staining and finishing colour

Blotchy under stain; condition first or use gel or paint. A clear finish keeps it pale yellow, and it darkens slowly.

Sustainability and handling

Not CITES-listed (Wood Database; checked 2026-09-30). Conservation status is contested: the Wood Database describes it as conservation dependent while Wikipedia, citing the IUCN assessment, lists the native species as Endangered (checked 2026-09-30); the endangerment applies to the small native stands, not to plantations. The Wood Database notes allergic skin reactions and asthma-like symptoms from pine.

Popular projects

Mouldings and architraves, painted cabinets and shelving, rough furniture, plywood and framing.

Buying notes

Common in Australia, New Zealand and Chile and exported as clear boards. No retailer listing was opened for this guide, so the price range is an estimate. Look for kiln-dried boards free of heavy pitch.