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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. 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 Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Schizomeria ovata Trade Name Australian white birch Family Name Cunoniaceae Common Names Australian white birch, Bea-bea, Black beech, Coachwood, Corkwood, Crab apple, Hambia, Humbug, Leather jacket, Malafelo, New South Wales white ash, Schizomena, Squeaker, White birch, White cherry Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Australia Common Uses Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Coffins, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Matches, Paneling, Plywood, Turnery, Veneer: decorative Heartwood Color White to cream Pale brown Greenish to greyish Red Sapwood Color White to yellow Paler than heartwood Grain Straight Interlocked Figure Even Distinct (figure) Straight Interlocked Distinct figure Texture Fine Fine Natural Durability Moderately durable Non durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Kiln Schedules Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is slow Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Drying Defects Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Slight collapse and honeycomb Moderate collapse and honeycombing Ease of Drying Easy Kiln Drying Rate Very slow (>28 days for boards < 32 mm, to >84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Bole length is 0-10 m Tree height is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with green wood is moderate Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Gluing Easy to glue Moulding Good finishing results Nailing Easy to nail Planing Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Routing & Recessing Moderately easy Screwing Easy to screw Veneering Qualities No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Easy to cut Polishing Good results Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = soft Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = low Max. crushing strength = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 6111 9589 psi Density 39 lbs/ft3 Hardness 995 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 4218 6664 psi Shearing Strength 1221 psi Stiffness 1426 1653 1000 psi Weight 38 30 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 429 674 kg/cm2 Density 624 kg/m3 Hardness 451 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 296 468 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 85 kg/cm2 Stiffness 100 116 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 608 480 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % References Anderson, R.H.,1947,The Trees of New South Wales,New South Wales Department of Agriculture Audas, J.W.,Native Trees of Australia,Whitcombe & Tombs PTY. Ltd Australia - N.S.W. Forestry Commission,1968,Working Properties of some Native and Imported Timbers,Forestry Commission of New South Wales, Technical Publication No.8 Australia - N.S.W. Forestry Commission,1988,Furniture Timbers of New South Wales,Forest Commission, N.S.W., Aust. Tech. Publication No.1 Boas, I.H.,1947,The Commercial Timbers of Australia - Their Properties and Uses,Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Melbourne 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 Bootle, K.R.,1971,The Commercial Timbers of New South Wales and their use,Angus & Robertson (publishers) PTY Ltd Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 8 Australasia,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Cause, M.L.; Rudder, E.J. and Kynaston, W.T.,1989,Queensland Timbers Their Nomenclature, Density, and Lyctid Susceptability,Queensland Department of Forestry, Technical Pamplet No.2 Forestry Commission of New South Wales,1987,Timbers used in New South Wales for Domestic Buildings,Forestry Commission of New South Wales, Technical Publication No.6 France - C.T.F.T.,1973,Investigations and Tests carried out on Tropical Timber by several,Research Laboratories,CTFT Francis, W.D.,1951,Australian Rain-forest Trees,Commonwealth of Australia - Forestry and Timber Bureau I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting