Search for

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. Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Splitting Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Palaquium hornei Trade Name Fiji hardwood Family Name Sapotaceae Common Names Fiji hardwood, Fijian palaquium, Sacau Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution Fiji [Polynesia] Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Cabinetmaking, Decks, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Ladders, Light construction, Mine timbers, Piling, Posts, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Turnery, Vehicle parts Heartwood Color Reddish brown Purple Sapwood Color Paler than heartwood Grain Even Interlocked Straight Straight Interlocked Texture Medium Fine Coarse Fine to medium Medium Fine Natural Durability Non-durable Perishable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Durable Very durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Toxicity Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Drying Defects Distortion Splitting Moderate surface checking Moderate collapse and honeycombing Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Kiln Drying Rate Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) Tree Size Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 60-70 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Movement in Service Stable Nailing Holds nails well Difficult to nail Planing Poor to Very Poor Results Resistance to Splitting Poor Turning Good results Easy to turn Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Max. crushing strength = high Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Bending strength (MOR) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = high Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Hardness (side grain) = medium Hardness (side grain) = hard Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 11442 17761 psi Density 57 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1987 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 6899 9945 psi Shearing Strength 2205 psi Stiffness 1916 2209 1000 psi Weight 56 46 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 804 1248 kg/cm2 Density 913 kg/m3 Hardness 901 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 485 699 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 155 kg/cm2 Stiffness 134 155 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 897 737 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % References Alston, A.S.,1966,Natural Heartwood Durability,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva. Fiji timbers and their uses No. 2 Alston, A.S.,1966,Powder Post Beetle Lyctus Species,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva. Fiji timbers and their uses No.6 Alston, A.S.,1982,Timbers of Fiji: Properties and potential uses,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva 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 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 Fiji Department of Forestry,1969,A Summary of the Properties of 34 Indigenous Timbers,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva. Fiji timbers and their uses No.38 Fiji Department of Forestry,1972,Guide to the use of local timbers,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva. Fiji timbers and their uses No.55 Fiji Forestry Department,1969,Timbers for Flooring A Note on Current & Potential Species,Fiji Timbers and their Uses No.36, Department of Forestry, Suva, Fiji Fiji Forestry Department,1981,The Properties and Uses of 43 Indigenous and Exotic Timbers,Fiji Forestry Department, Fiji Timbers and their Uses No.71 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