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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 Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Size Scientific Name Acacia decurrens Trade Name Green wattle Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Acacia decurrens, Acacia mollissima Common Names Basboom, Black acacia, Black wattle, Green wattle, Swartwattel, Tan wattle, Wattle Regions of Distribution Africa, Central America, North America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Australia, Costa Rica, India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, United States Common Uses Barge fenders, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Chairs, Charcoal, Chemical derivatives, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Cooperages, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Docks, Dockwork, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Harbor work, Hatracks, Interior construction, Interior trim, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Marine construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Naval architecture, Office furniture, Poles, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Raft floats, Rafts, Rustic furniture, Stools, Tables , Tool handles, Utility furniture, Wardrobes, Wharf construction Environmental Profile Seeds easily A horticultural variety Distribution Overview Originates from Australia (Qld. and NSW, though naturalized in Vic., Tas. and ACT), but has been introduced into other areas of the world. Heartwood Color Brown Red Yellow Black Highly variable Pink Orange Pale brown Red Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale red to pink Gold Dark brown Color varies considerably Bark inclusions are common To facilitate matching, it is suggested that sawn lumber from each log be stored separately Sapwood Color White Different than heartwood Cream Grain Figure Interlocked Other (figure) Other figure Interlocked Texture Fine Medium Fine Fine to medium Luster Medium High Lustrous High Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-durable Very durable Non-resistant to termites Perishable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Very high natural resistance Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Distortion Splitting Checking Moderate end spitting Severe cupping Moderate surface checking Slight twist/warp Severe twisting/warping Moderate cupping Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Thick Stock Requires Care Rapidly Slowly Moderately Difficult to Difficult Requires slow to moderate drying schedule. Moderate Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Naturally dries quickly Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 0-10 m Tree height is 20-30 m Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Fair results Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Easy to saw Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Mortising characteristics fair or medium Movement in Service Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Large Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Possible if prebored Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Difficult to plane May produce some torn grain Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable heartwood Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is moderately resistant Permeable Difficult to treat with preservatives Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Difficult to machine Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Satisfactory screwing characteristics Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact strength)= high Toughness (total work)= very high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 11249 17470 psi Density 46 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1658 lbs Impact Strength 54 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 6568 9550 psi Shearing Strength 2205 psi Stiffness 1798 2074 1000 psi Toughness 470 inch-lbs Weight 45 37 lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 790 1228 kg/cm2 Density 737 kg/m3 Hardness 752 kg Impact Strength 137 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 461 671 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 155 kg/cm2 Stiffness 126 145 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 541 cm-kg References Banks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48 Banks, C.H.,1954,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with Particular Reference to those,grown in the Union of South Africa,Journal of the South African Forestry Association,No. 24 pp.44-65,[South,African Forestry Journal] Bois, P.J.,1966,The Strength Properties of Tanzania Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi Tech. Note, No.35 Bolza, E., Keating, W.G.,1972,African Timbers - the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 700 Species,C.S.I.R.O. Div. of Building Research Bolza, E., Kloot, N.H.,1963,The Mechanical Properties of 174 Australian Timbers,C.S.I.R.O. Division of Forest Products Technological Paper,No.25 Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Dave Faison. Into the Woods. Personal Communication, 1993. E.H. Walker,1954,Important Trees of the Ryukyu Islands,United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands Special Bulletin,No. 3 Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO Guha, S.R.D.,1969,Summary of Investigations on the suitability of Indigenous Broadleaved,woods for production of Sulphate pulps for writing and printing,Indian Forester,95(8,pp579-90 Hartwig, G.L.F.,1967,Flooring Timber in S.Africa - Acacia mearnsii,The South African Builder 45(2) pp34-35 Lavers, G.M.,1983,The Strength Properties of Timber (3rd ed. revised Moore G.L.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Report (formerly Bulletin No.50) Little, E.L.,1948,A Collection of Tree Specimens from Western Ecuador,Caribbean Forester,9(3,pp215-98 Nation Research Council,1980,Firewood Crops Shrub and Tree Species for Energy Production,National Academy of Sciences, Washington D.C. Rao, K.R. and S.K. Purkayastha. 1972. Indian Woods - Their Identification, Properties and Uses, Volume III - Leguminosae to Combretaceae. Published by the Manager of Publications, Delhi, India. Scott, M.H.,1935,Weights of South African Growth Timbers,South African Department of Agriculture and Forestry Bulletin,No.145,Forest Products Institute, Forestry Series No.1 Scott, M.H.,1953,Utilisation Notes on South African Timbers,South African Forestry Department Bulletin No.36 South African Lumber Millers Assoc.,1969,Notes on some Commercially Available Hardwoods,S.A.L.M.A. Timber Info. Centre Timber Technical Guide,No.1 Takahashi, A.,1978,Compilation of Data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part,III) Africa,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No. 7 Timber Development Association,1948,Some New Timbers and Their Uses No. 34,Timber Development Association Limited, London [TRADA]