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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 Certified Source Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Arbutus menziesii Trade Name Pacific madrone Family Name Common Names Arbuti tree, Coast madrone, Madrona, Madrone, Madrono, Pacific madrone Regions of Distribution North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Canada, United States Common Uses Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Interior construction, Paneling , Plywood, Turnery, Veneer Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Pacific madrone occupies coastal lowlands from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, southward to the Coast Ranges of southern California and occurs in isolated groves as far south as Mexico. Pacific madrone is particularly common west of the Cascades in Washington and Oregon. Along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, Pacific madrone has a scattered distribution, extending southward to central California. Heartwood Color Brown White Red Pink Reddish brown Pinkish white Has an irregular pattern of growth rings that give it an attractive appearance. Occassionally has deep red spots Sapwood Color White Pink Whitish or cream colored with a pinkish cast Grain Figure Even Straight Irregular Distinct (figure) Irregular or uneven grain occasionally Generally straight, but not always Distinct and fine figure A hard and heavy wood with a fine grain that is generally straight to irregular. Texture Even or uniform Fine Uniform Smooth Fine Even textured It has been compared to the texture of Pear Natural Durability Perishable Negligible natural resistance to decay Moderately resistant to attack by powder post and common furniture beetles Odor No specific smell or taste Drying Defects Checking Collapse Distortion Warps and checks easily Tension wood can cause uneven shrinkage Rather high shrinkage Presence of wetwood may cause collapse Ease of Drying Thick Stock Requires Care Medium to High Shrinkage Moderately Difficult to Difficult Very difficult to dry due to tendency to collapse Stains become apparent after planing Shrinks significantly more than other woods Quartersawing, pre-steaming kiln charges, and closely-spaced stickering minimzes excessive shrinkage and drying degrade Minimize stains by drying material as soon as possible and by avoiding tight stacking of wet lumber Green moisture content ranges from 68 to 93% Blue or purple streaks caused by chemical oxidation may stain the wood prior to kilning Air dry at a very slow rate before kiln drying reduces degrade Tree Size Tree height is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Product Sources A few of the species in the genus are reported to produce timber of commercial value. Among them are three species which grow in India, and A. lanceifolius from the Malay-Peninsula which is the source of the timber marketed as Keledang. Certified Source Certified Source Blunting Effect Moderate Moderate blunting effect on cutting edges The wood is hard Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Good boring qualitites Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Slow feeding rates recommended due to high density Hook angle of 20 degrees and sharpness angle of 55 degrees recommended for best results Gluing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Glued joints hold well Difficult to glue Currying or drying of glued joints should be controlled to prevent gluelines from sinking in post-cutting machining operations Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Material responds well to moulding operations Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Very stable after kiln drying Small movement in use Nailing Fair to Good Results Good nail holding properties Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Worked surfaces are realtively clean Ranks the highest of all the Pacific hardwoods in planing, shaping, boring and turning Despite hardness, responds very well to machine tools in planing operations Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Sapwood is treatable Fairly resistant to impregnation Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Easy to Work Responds well to hand tools Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Produces smooth surfaces Produces clean surfaces Easily sanded Screwing Fair to Good Results Holds screws well Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Surface scratching is an occasional problem Good turning qualities Veneering Qualities Suitable for slicing Sliced into very decorative veneers that are suitable for paneling, cabinets and furniture Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Moderate steam bending characteristics Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Polishes to a shine that is close to that achieved in Holly Staining Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Responds well to ebonizing Accepts various types of stains well Accepts dyes or transparent stains better than heavily pigmented stains Strength Properties Moderate stifness Moderate shock resistance Crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = high Pacific madrone is described as a compact and tough timber The wood is one of the best sources of charcoal for gunpowder Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 10192 psi Crushing Strength 1588 psi Density 44 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1431 lbs Impact Strength 23 inches Shearing Strength 1774 psi Stiffness 1205 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.57 Weight 57 43 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 12 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 716 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 111 kg/cm2 Density 705 kg/m3 Hardness 649 kg Impact Strength 58 cm Shearing Strength 124 kg/cm2 Stiffness 84 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.57 Weight 913 689 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % References Dost, W.A. and C. Maxey. 1964. Gluing Characteristics of Some California Hardwoods:Black oak, Chinkapin, Madrone and Tanoak. California Forestry and Forest Products, No. 36. California. Kline, M. 1984. Arbutus menziesii - Pacific madrone. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World, Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 48. Laidlaw, W.B.R. 1960. Guide to British Hardwoods. Published by Leonard Hill [Books] Limited, 9 Eden Street, N.W.1, London. Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California. Little, E.L. 1980. The Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Western Region. Published by Alfred A. Knopf, New York. Niemiec, S.S., G.A. Ahrens, S. Willits, and D.E. Hibbs. March, 1995. Hardwoods of the Pacific Northwest. Oregon State University, College of Forestry, Research Contribution 8, Forest Research Laboratory, Department of Forest Products, Corvallis, Oregon. Overholser, J.L. 1977. Oregon Hardwood Timber, Forest Research Laboratory, Research Bulletin No. 16, Oregon.