Radiata Pine vs SPF
Natural Material · grade comparison
Radiata Pine and SPF are both natural material grades. Radiata Pine is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 90 MPa (13.1 ksi) against 22 MPa (3.19 ksi) for SPF, about 4.1 times as much. SPF is lighter (0.42 g/cm³ vs 0.48 g/cm³ for Radiata Pine) and Radiata Pine is stiffer (10.2 GPa vs 9.7 GPa).
Radiata PineChoose it when strength drives the design, or when the part sees heat.
SPFChoose it when weight is the constraint.
Radiata Pine vs SPF: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all natural material grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all natural material grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Elastic (Young's) Modulus
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Compressive Strength
Flexural Strength
Shear Strength
Same in both: Shear Modulus 0.7 GPa0.1 Msi · Poisson's Ratio 0.37 · Elongation at Break 1% · Fracture Toughness (K_IC) 0.4 MPa·√m0.36 ksi·√in
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Porosity
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Min Service Temperature
Same in both: Thermal Conductivity 0.12 W/m·K0.07 BTU/hr·ft·°F · Specific Heat Capacity 1,600 J/kg·K0.38 BTU/lb·°F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Resistivity
Dielectric Strength
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Corrosion Resistance
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Polishability
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Embodied Water
Same in both: Typical Recycled Content 0%
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Same in both: Thermal Diffusivity 0.2 mm²/s · Thermal Shock Resistance Index 0
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every natural material grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | Radiata Pine | SPF |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | — | — |
| Relative cost | $ Budget | $ Budget |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
Radiata Pine vs SPF — frequently asked
Is Radiata Pine stronger than SPF?
Yes. Radiata Pine has a typical tensile strength of 90 MPa (13.1 ksi) against 22 MPa (3.19 ksi) for SPF — about 4.1 times as much.
Which is cheaper, Radiata Pine or SPF?
Both sit in the same relative cost tier ($, budget); the part price will be decided by machining time, tolerance and quantity rather than by the material.
Which is easier to machine, Radiata Pine or SPF?
SPF, by a small margin. Both rate excellent for machinability — 95/100 against 90/100 for Radiata Pine.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Radiata Pine and SPF side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.
Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.