Should I Buy A Blue Stain Pine?

Posted by Rustic Lumber on November 27th, 2019

The blue stain pine is arguably the most underrated lumber on the market today. While this lumber can be a boon to many woodworking projects, a lot of home builders and woodworkers refrain from using it. To them, the lumber is a mold liability and a visual defect. But little do they know, it is a top-notch lumber that can greatly improve their woodworking projects in a lot of ways.

About the lumber

Blue stain, or also referred as sap stain, in a lumber is a discoloration caused by the dark-colored fungi that came from Mountain Pine Beetles. When these insects attack a pine tree, it creates a bluish gray color that you will see in this lumber. Once this color is present, it cannot be removed completely.

Appearance

This lumber is unique and charming with each lumber piece having its color variations. The truth is, not all logs taken from a pine tree killed by these beetles are totally blue. Some feature a mix of blue and white wood, while others have higher blue concentrations. Regardless of your preferences, this lumber can provide a classic and natural feel to your woodworking project.

Strength and durability

A lot of woodworking enthusiasts consider blue stain pine as an inferior type of lumber, as it was damaged by Mountain Pine Beetles. However, this type of wood is just as durable and strong as the other types of lumber. Apparently, the sap stain caused by fungus won’t have any effective on the lumber’s strength and performance. On top of that, blue stain pine has the ability to naturally resist decay. As a woodworker, you can make this lumber lasts a lot longer by regular maintenance and treatment.

Applications of the lumber

Since sap stain won’t affect your lumber in any way, this wood can be used for the same applications as the non-stained wood. Just make sure that the wood has a grade mark accredited by ALSC (American Lumber Standard), a national committee that determines the mill identification number, species, inspection service, moisture content, and grade.

Will sap stain cause further decay?

No, as sap stain is not a decaying fungus. Basically, this fungus lives on the nutrients of the wood’s cells, and not on the tree’s cellulose fibers.

Can it be pressure treated?

Sap stain will have no effects on the pine’s treatability. Hence, it can be treated to guard against termites and decay.