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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 Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Scientific Name Palaquium galactoxylum Trade Name Aghai Family Name Sapotaceae Synonyms Lucuma galactoxylon Common Names Aghai, Aimela, Aisulu, Bubungu, Malahala, Nage, Paroto, Red silkwood, Rongo Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Australia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands Common Uses Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Furniture, Joinery, Light construction, Moldings, Paneling, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Toys, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer Heartwood Color Purple Red Brown Pale red to pink Brown Sapwood Color Pinkish White to yellow Well defined Grain Straight Interlocked Closed Even Figure Wavy Stripe (figure) Weak (figure) Texture Medium Fine Fine to medium Luster Lustrous Natural Durability Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Non durable Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Drying Defects Slight twist/warp Slight cupping Slight collapse and honeycomb Ease of Drying Easy Kiln Drying Rate Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect High to severe Boring Easy Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Gluing Easy to glue Nailing Holds satisfactorily Easy to nail Planing Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is resistant Heartwood is extremely resistant Response to Hand Tools Moderate working qualities Easy to machine Screwing Easy to screw Polishing Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 13576 20956 psi Density 37 lbs/ft3 Maximum Crushing Strength 3916 6397 psi Shearing Strength 1334 psi Stiffness 1188 1383 1000 psi Weight 36 29 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 4 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 954 1473 kg/cm2 Density 592 kg/m3 Maximum Crushing Strength 275 449 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 93 kg/cm2 Stiffness 83 97 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 576 464 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % References Budgen, B.,1981,Shrinkage and density of some Australian and South-East Asian Timbers,C.S.I.R.O. Div. building Res. Tech Paper(2nd Series) No.38 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 Papua New Guinea Department of Forests,1972,New Horizons,Forestry in Papua New Guinea,Jacaranda Press PTY Ltd, Brisbane Pleydell, G.J.,1970,Timbers of the British Solomon Islands,United Africa Company (Timber) Ltd, London