Noble Fir
Abies procera · softwood · Pacific Northwest · moderate movement
- Janka hardness 410 lbfred oak ≈ 1,290 lbf
- Density ≈ 27 lb/ft³specific gravity 0.39 at 12% MC
- Shrinkage — tangential 8.3%flatsawn width, green → ovendry
- Shrinkage — radial 4.3%quartersawn width
- T/R ratio 1.9 : 1higher = more cupping in flatsawn stock
Shop notes The strongest true fir for its weight — historic aircraft stock. Clear, straight grain when you can find it.
Seasonal movement at a glance
Width change for noble fir across a typical indoor year — 6% moisture content in the heated winter to 12% in a humid summer:
| Board width | Flatsawn | Quartersawn |
|---|---|---|
| 6″ | 3/32″ (0.107″) | 1/16″ (0.055″) |
| 12″ | 7/32″ (0.213″) | 1/8″ (0.111″) |
| 24″ | 7/16″ (0.427″) | 7/32″ (0.221″) |
| 36″ | 5/8″ (0.640″) | 11/32″ (0.332″) |
Run your own numbers
Different width, different climate swing — the calculator below is preset to noble fir:
Typical swings:
Noble Fir questions
How much does noble fir move with the seasons?
A 12″-wide flatsawn noble fir board moves about 7/32″ across a typical indoor swing from 6% to 12% moisture content; quartersawn, about 1/8″. Its tangential shrinkage is 8.3% and radial 4.3% (green to ovendry) — a moderate-movement wood.
How hard is noble fir?
Noble Fir rates about 410 lbf on the Janka scale — soft enough to dent in daily use (red oak is roughly 1,290 lbf). Density runs about 27 lb/ft³ at indoor moisture levels.
Is noble fir good for wide panels and tabletops?
Yes, with normal precautions: its 1.9:1 tangential-to-radial ratio is moderate. Still fasten solid tops so they can move across their width.
Similar species
Balsam Fir · Western White Pine · Pacific Silver Fir · Engelmann Spruce · Eastern White Pine · Sugar Pine
Shrinkage, specific gravity, and hardness from the Wood Handbook, FPL-GTR-282 (2021 edition), USDA Forest Products Laboratory (public domain). Values are species averages — individual boards vary with growth conditions and how they were dried.