Pine tar
Wood tar from pine, used for preservation, medicine, and baseball.
Pine tar is a form of wood tar generated through the high-temperature carbonization of pine wood in an oxygen-free environment, a process called dry or destructive distillation. In this method, heat and pressure rapidly decompose the wood inside a sealed container, yielding charcoal and pine tar as primary products. Its composition is mainly aromatic hydrocarbons, tar acids, and tar bases, but the specific components vary depending on factors such as the pyrolysis method, duration, temperature, and the wood’s origin—including the age of the pine trees, soil type, and moisture conditions during growth. Traditional production often uses pine stumps and roots, and the choice of wood, kiln design, burning, and collection methods can all differ.
The history of pine tar production stretches back to the Nordic Iron Age. Chemical analysis of organic residues suggests that cone-shaped pits discovered north of Uppsala, Sweden, were used for this purpose. Radiocarbon dating of three such pits places the oldest at 540–380 BCE, making it the world’s oldest known surviving tar production facility, with others dating to 230–390 CE. In Classical antiquity, Pliny the Elder described European tar production via destructive distillation of pine wood, noting its use for coating ships and other purposes. By the 17th century, large-scale production began in Finland (then part of Sweden), and tar became Sweden’s third most valuable export. In the American colonies, extensive pine forests made tar a crucial export, earning North Carolinians the nickname “Tar Heels.” Swedish pine tar, often called “Stockholm tar” due to a royal monopoly on its export from Stockholm, became synonymous with top quality. Production peaked around the mid-1850s before declining due to new shipbuilding materials and the phase-out of hemp rope and sailing ships. Chemically, Stockholm tar and pine tar are identical.
Pine tar’s uses are diverse. It has served as a wood preservative and sealant for maritime use, in roofing, soaps, and for treating skin ailments like psoriasis, eczema, and rosacea. In baseball, it enhances grip on bats and is sometimes used illegally by pitchers on balls. It has been applied to traditional Nordic skis as a preservative and to help wax adhere. In veterinary care, it acts as an antiseptic and hoof treatment for horses and cattle, and can deter chickens from pecking wounds. It
- field
- Wood tar production and applications
- known_for
- Wood preservative, maritime sealant, baseball grip aid, skin treatment
- major_historical_export_region
- Finland and Sweden (17th–19th centuries)
Lore & Background
Based on chemical analysis of organic residues, cone-shaped pits discovered north of Uppsala, Sweden, have been used for pine tar production. In his work Natural History, the Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder describes how tar was produced through destructive distillation of pine wood, used for coating ships and other purposes. In the 17th century, large-scale tar production began in Finland, then part of Sweden, and by the late 17th century tar was Sweden's third most valuable export commodity. Tar production peaked around the mid-1850s and gradually declined due to new shipbuilding materials and the phasing out of sailing ships.
Reader's Guide
Pine tar's significance lies in its long history as a versatile preservative and sealant, particularly for maritime use, where it was essential for waterproofing and caulking wooden ships. Its production shaped economies in Nordic nations and the American colonies, with Sweden's tar becoming a top-quality export known as Stockholm tar. Chemically, pine tar contains compounds like methyl dehydroabietate and dehydroabietic acid, which contribute to its antiseptic and preservative qualities. Although its use declined with modern materials, pine tar remains relevant in traditional boat building, veterinary care, and as a grip aid in baseball. Its legacy includes the nickname 'tars' for British Navy seamen, derived from the tar used on rope.
Did You Know?
- Swedish pine tar was often called 'Stockholm tar' because a single company held a royal monopoly on its export from Stockholm.
- British Navy seamen became known as 'tars' because the tar used to preserve rope would stain their hands.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pine tar?
Pine tar is a thick, dark residue obtained by heating pine wood to high temperatures in the absence of oxygen, a process called destructive distillation. It is a concentrated blend of aromatic hydrocarbons, tar acids, and tar bases whose precise ratio shifts with the wood's origin and the pyrolysis conditions used.
What is Pine tar known for?
It has long served as a wood preservative and a sealant for ships, and it also appears in roofing materials, soaps, and topical remedies for skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, and rosacea. In modern baseball, players smear it on bats to improve grip, and pitchers have controversially used it to alter their hold on the ball.
Why is Pine tar controversial in baseball?
Rubbing it on a bat for extra tack is broadly accepted, but pitchers applying it to the ball to create a sticky or altered surface is widely treated as a rule violation. The substance can change how the ball spins or moves in flight, giving an unfair competitive edge.
What makes Pine tar distinct from other wood tars?
Because it is derived specifically from pine, its aromatic, acidic, and basic compound profile differs from tar produced by pyrolyzing other species. The exact chemical fingerprint also varies depending on the geographic source of the pine and the temperature profile of the distillation.
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