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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Serianthes myriadenia Trade Name Vaivai-ni-veikau Family Name Mimosaceae Synonyms Serianthes myriadenia Common Names Vaivai, Vaivai-ni-veikau Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Fiji [Polynesia], Fiji Common Uses Balusters, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: planking, Building construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Core Stock, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Moldings, Office furniture, Plain veneer, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Roofing, Shipbuilding, Structural work, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer Environmental Profile Questionable Abundant/Secure Status has not been officially assessed Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Red Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Brown Greenish to greyish Yellow-Brown to bright yellow, often with a greenish tinge Pinkish brown Darkens after exposure Sapwood Color Brown Yellow Pinkish White to yellow Cream to pinkish-brown Grain Straight Even Straight Texture Coarse Luster Low Lustrous Natural Durability Perishable Durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Satisfactory resistance to decay above ground Perishable Odor Has an odor No distinct odor or taste Toxicity Unspecified toxicity Sawdust can cause skin irritation in some individuals Sawdust can cause nose irritation in some individuals Kiln Schedules Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Drying Defects Splitting Extension of Existing Shakes Checking Distortion Ring Shakes Slight surface checking Moderate twist/warp May check slightly and some 1 inch (25 mm) thick boards may twist during drying Ease of Drying Slowly Moderately Difficult to Difficult Variable, but good seasoning properties Figure Occurrence is variable Kiln Drying Rate Kiln drying rate (green to 12% mc) is rapid, typically from less than 10 days for a board under 32 mm, to less than 30 days for a board 63 mm and thicker. Kiln drying rate (green to 12% mc) is rather slow, typically from 18-28 days for a board under 32 mm, to 52-84 days for a board 63 mm and thicker. Tree Size Tree height is 50-60 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Comments Abnormal Wood Tissue Orange-Red deposits are reported to often be present Small compression failure and ingrown bark are some common defects in logs Tension wood is present in some logs Blunting Effect Moderate Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Easy Good boring properties Carving Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly easy to work Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Saws well in both green and seasoned conditions Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly good mortising properties, except in material with tension wood Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good moulding properties Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Small Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Holds nails well Tends to split during nailing Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Responds well to ordinary tools in mortising Fairly easy to work Clean surfaces in planing and other machining operations, except when tension wood is present Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Adequate preservative absorption and retention Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Responds well to hand tools Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Routs well Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good sanding properties Screwing Poor to Very Poor Results Turning Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to turn Yields fairly smooth surfaces Presence of reaction wood may produce fuzzy surfaces Veneering Qualities Easy to cut Suitable for peeling Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good polishing properties after filling Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Radial = very small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Hardness (side grain) = soft Resists wearing and marring Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength = low Hardness = medium Density=Average/Medium Crushing strength = high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength in the air-dry condition (about 12%moisture content)is high-comparable to Teak Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7208 10985 psi Crushing Strength 505 804 psi Density 30 lbs/ft3 Hardness 867 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 3652 6318 psi Shearing Strength 1365 psi Static Bending 4645 7154 psi Stiffness 1324 1608 1000 psi Toughness 115 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.42 0.43 Weight 31 25 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 506 772 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 35 56 kg/cm2 Density 480 kg/m3 Hardness 393 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 256 444 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 95 kg/cm2 Static Bending 326 502 kg/cm2 Stiffness 93 113 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 132 cm-kg Specific Gravity 0.42 0.43 Weight 496 400 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % References Alston, A.S.,1966,Natural Heartwood Durability,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva. Fiji timbers and their uses No. 2 Alston, A.S.,1966,Powder Post Beetle Lyctus Species,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva. Fiji timbers and their uses No.6 Alston, A.S.,1982,Timbers of Fiji: Properties and potential uses,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva Bolza, E., Kloot, N.H.,1972,The Mechanical Properties of 56 Fijian Timbers,Australia C.S.I.R.O. Division of Forest Products Technological Paper,No.,62 Fiji Department of Forestry,1968,The properties and potential uses of Vaivai-ni-Veikau (Serianthes,myriadenia,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva. Summary of the C.S.I.R.O. investigations,,Fiji timbers and their uses No.34 Fiji Department of Forestry,1969,A Summary of the Properties of 34 Indigenous Timbers,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva. Fiji timbers and their uses No.38 Fiji Department of Forestry,1972,Guide to the use of local timbers,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva. Fiji timbers and their uses No.55 Fiji Forestry Department,1981,The Properties and Uses of 43 Indigenous and Exotic Timbers,Fiji Forestry Department, Fiji Timbers and their Uses No.71 Keating, W.G., Bolza, E.,1982,Characteristics properties and uses of timbers. South East Asia, Northern,Australia and the Pacific,C.S.I.R.O. Div. Chemical Technology,Inkata Press,1 Trotter, H.,1940,Manual of Indian Forest Utilization,O.U.P. Indian Branch, Calcutta