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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. Boring Carving Comments Common Names Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Sterculia vitiensis Trade Name Fijian Sterculia Family Name Sterculiaceae Common Names Fijian Sterculia, Waciwaci Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Fiji Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Rare Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Several species in the genus Sterculia are distributed in the Malay Peninsula, Philippines, and other areas in southeast Asia. Heartwood Color Brown Black Purple Red White to cream Material is discolored to a silver gray or light brown when stained Brown Brown - light grayish Sapwood Color Yellow White Same as heartwood Grain Even Straight Generally straight, but not always Texture Medium Very fine Spongy heart may be present. Coarse Luster Medium Natural Durability Very durable Non-durable Resistant to termites Non-resistant to marine borers Heatwood deteriorates rapidly in contact with ground Heartwoood susceptible to beetle attack Toxicity Some toxic effects Drying Defects Checking Distortion Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Fairly Easy Stains easily Despite staining, timber seasons well Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Comments Leight weight, poor quality, suitable on for low-grade uses Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Material is very soft and saws easily Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Movement in Service Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Clean surfaces are difficult to obtain Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Sanding Fair to Good Results Turning Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Strength Properties Resistance to denting and marring is low Hardness (side grain) = soft Density = medium Compression strength (parallel to grain) = low Bending strength (MOR) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 5513 8247 psi Crushing Strength 279 314 psi Density 21 lbs/ft3 Hardness 368 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 2450 5135 psi Shearing Strength 774 psi Static Bending 3165 4243 psi Stiffness 1058 1264 1000 psi Toughness 94 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.34 Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 387 579 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 19 22 kg/cm2 Density 336 kg/m3 Hardness 166 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 172 361 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 54 kg/cm2 Static Bending 222 298 kg/cm2 Stiffness 74 88 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 108 cm-kg References 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 Desch, H. E. 1954. Manual of Malayan Timbers - Volume II. Malayan Forest Records, No. 15. Malaysia Publishing House Ltd., Singapore. Schneider, E.E. 1916. Commercial Woods of the Philippines: Their Preparation and Uses. Bulletin No. 14. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Forestry, Manila, Philippines.