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Blunting Effect Boring Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Strength Properties Substitutes Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Fitzroya cupressoides Trade Name Alerce Family Name Cupressaceae Synonyms Fitzroya patagonica Common Names Alerce, Alerzcholz, Fitzroy cypress, Lahuan, Patagonian cypress Regions of Distribution Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Argentina, Chile Common Uses Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: masts, Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Cigar boxes, Construction, Cooperages, Flooring, Food containers, Fuelwood, Furniture components, Furniture, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Light construction, Mathematical instruments, Mine timbers, Musical instruments , Musical instruments, Particleboard, Pencil, Piling, Plywood, Poles, Pulp/Paper products, Shakes, Shingles, Sporting Goods, Toys, Vats Environmental Profile Decreasing in numbers Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Could become endangered if current trend persists Considered vulnerable in its natural habitat because its numbers are threatened by serious adverse factors throughout its range. However, the species likely exists today in relatively large numbers. These trends include over exploitation, extensive destruction of habitat, uncertainty of future security of remaining members Distribution Overview The species occurs in the central region of Chile and in the Province of Chubut in southern Argentina. It grows primarily on marshy sites, and may also be found at higher elevations on Isla de Chiloe and in Patagonia. It form dense and nearly pure stands Heartwood Color Brown Black Green/grey Reddish brown Red Brown, red, dark reddish brown with nearly black stripes after prolonged exposure Yellow to golden-yellow to orange The heartwood is described as a distinct brownish red in color, and is similar in appearance to California redwood (Sequoia). Sapwood Color Green/Grey Brown White-Yellow Well defined Paler than heartwood The sapwood is a lighter color than the heartwood and is often clearly differentiated from the heartwood. Grain Straight Figure Growth rings (figure) Even Stripe (figure) Weak (figure) Straight Clear growth rings (figure) Weak figure Striped figure Texture Medium Fine Coarse Fine Uniform Even with narrow growth rings to coarse with wide growth rings Luster Low Natural Durability Durable Resistant to termites Durable Very durable Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Alerce is reported to resist attack by white-rot and brown-rot fungi. Its high durability is considered unusual since it is a softwood. Odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Drying Defects Splitting Slight end splitting Ease of Drying Easy Very little or no degade Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Bark width is 10-15 mm Bark width is 5-10 mm Boles are often straight, well-formed Trunk diameters of 15 feet (4.6 m) are reported to have been recorded. Trunk diameters of 4 feet (1.2 m) under favorable growing conditions. Product Sources Alerce timber of large sizes and of good quality are still available from existing supplies of large, old trees. The International Tropical Timbers Organization reports that only small quantities of Alerce are marketed because of the low number of trees remaining in the forest Substitutes Lerce has been suggested as a potential substitute for Redwood (Sequoia ). Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Easy Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Low resistance to cutting Gluing Easy to glue Good gluing properties Mortising Finishes well Easy to mortise Moulding Good finishing results Easy to mould Movement in Service Stable Small Planing Planes well, to a good finish Responds well to ordinary tools in planing and almost all machining operations End-grain material requires very sharp cutting edges to produce a smooth finish Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is permeable Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Easy to work with hand tools except when interlocked grain is present Routing & Recessing Routing yields good results Routing is easy Turning Good results Easy to turn Painting Good results Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Satisfactory results Good results Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Takes stains well Finish is generally good Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength = low Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Tangential = small Hardness (side grain) = very soft Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Max. crushing strength = medium Density (dry weight) = 15-22 lbs/cu. ft. Work to Maximum Load = very low Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Surfaces may dent easily Soft Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Moderate density Max. crushing strength (stiffness) = very low Does not wear well and mars easily Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Compression strength (parallel to grain) = low Bending strength (MOR) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = medium Bending strength in the air-dried condition (about 12% moisture content) is medium, but lower than Mahogany, and much lower than White oak. It is weaker than Mahogany or Teak Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 5951 8965 psi Density 29 lbs/ft3 Hardness 442 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 2636 4826 psi Shearing Strength 1153 psi Stiffness 989 1191 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 5 7 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.37 Weight 27 24 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % Volumetric Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 418 630 kg/cm2 Density 464 kg/m3 Hardness 200 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 185 339 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 81 kg/cm2 Stiffness 69 83 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.35 0.49 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.37 Weight 432 384 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % References Berni, C.A., Bolza, E., Christensen, F.J.,1979,South American Timbers - The Characteristics, Properties and Uses of 190,Species,C.S.I.R.O Div. Building Research Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 2 South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London Dallimore, W. and Jackson, A. Bruce,1966,A Handbook of Coniferae and Ginkgoaceae Fourth Ed. Revised by S.G.,Harrison,Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd. London Forest Products Research Laboratory U.K.,1957,A Handbook of Softwoods,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research,HMSO Gerry, E.,1954,Information Leaflet - Alerce (Fitzroya cupressiodes,USDA, Forest Service, FPRL Information Leaflets - Foreign Woods Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12 Kribbs, D.A. 1959. Commercial Foreign Woods on the American Market. Buckhout Lab., Dept. of Botany, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania. Kribs, D.A.,1950,Commercial and Foreign Woods on the American Market (a manual to their,structure, identification, uses and distribution,U.S.A. Penn. State College, Tropical Woods Laboratory Kukachka, B.F.,1962,Characters of Some Imported Woods,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,,Foreign Wood Series,No.2242 Kukachka, B.F.,1970,Properties of Imported Tropical Woods,Forest Research Paper FPL 125 Patterson, D. 1988. Commercial Timbers of the World. Fifth Edition. Gower Technical Press, Aldershot, UK. ix + 339 pp. Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London Rijsdijk, L.F. and Laming, P.B.,1994,Physical and Related Properties of 145 Timbers, Information for,Practice,TNO Building and Construction Research Centre for Timber Research Kluwer,Academic Publishers T.D.A.,1942,Timber Leaflet No.85 Alerce (Fitzroya cuppressiodes,TRADA Timber Leaflet Takahashi, A.,1975,Compilation of data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part 2,Central and South America,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No.4 Timber Development Association Ltd.,1955,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Timber Development Association Ltd.