Western white pine

Overview

A pale, even-textured soft white pine, sold as "Idaho white pine" (the IWP stamp) and used for millwork. It works almost exactly like Eastern white pine and is sold interchangeably with Sugar pine.

Pros

• Easy to work by hand and machine; glues and finishes well (Wood Database).
• Straight, even grain with a medium texture.
• Light (about 435 kg/m3).
• Traditional uses include matches and millwork (Wood Database).

Cons

• Soft (420 lbf).
• Heartwood is moderately to poorly decay resistant.
• Blotches under stain.
• Supply is smaller than eastern white pine.

Variants and subspecies

• Idaho white pine (IWP): the commercial grade name.
• Sold interchangeably with Sugar pine (Wood Database).
• Similar to Eastern white pine but from the western mountains.

Working and finishing

Planes, carves and cuts cleanly. Very soft end grain; use sharp edges and backing boards when cross-cutting. Glue joints are reliable.

Staining and finishing colour

As with other white pines, pigment stains blotch; use conditioner or gel stain, or finish clear or with paint. It darkens gently with age.

Sustainability and handling

Not CITES-listed (Wood Database; checked 2026-09-30). The IUCN lists the species Near Threatened as of 2026-09-30 (Wikipedia species page). The Wood Database notes allergic skin reactions and asthma-like symptoms in some people working with pine.

Popular projects

Millwork, carving, painted furniture, boxes and drawer parts.

Buying notes

Sold as Idaho white pine or simply "white pine". No listing for this species was opened for this guide; the price shown is an estimate. Ask for kiln-dried stock and match grades carefully when mixing with sugar pine.