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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 Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Plantation species? References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Acacia mangium Trade Name Black wattle Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Acacia glaucescens, Mangium montanum Common Names Black wattle, Brown salwood, Hickory wattle, Mangium, Sabah salwood Plantation species? Yes Regions of Distribution Africa, Central America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Bangladesh, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Hawaii [US], Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Charcoal, Fuelwood, Furniture, Handles: general, Joinery, Ladders, Light construction, Moldings, Paneling, Particleboard, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Sporting Goods, Turnery, Veneer Distribution Overview Largely Australian with disjunct distribution of small stands in New Guinea and the Moluccas, as well as in Cape York Peninsula. In Indonesia, Black Wattle occurs on Taliabu, the most western island, and Sanana, a southern island of the Sula Island Group. It can also be found near Waesalan in the southwest of the main Ceran group. It has been introduced to Banglasesh, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Papua, and the Philippines. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Black Red Orange Brown Pale brown Dark brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Green/Grey White to yellow Well defined Paler than heartwood Grain Straight Interlocked Even Figure Other (figure) Straight Interlocked Other figure Texture Fine Fine Luster Medium Lustrous Natural Durability Perishable Moderately durable Non-durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to insect attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Non durable Moderately durable Kiln Schedules Dry at a moderate speed Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Collapse Internal Honeycombing Possible Loose Knots Splitting Checking Slight surface checking Slight end splitting Moderate collapse and honeycombing Severe collapse and honeycomb No surface checking No end splitting Expect moderate degrade due to knots, splits, and loosening Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Slowly Easy Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries at a moderate speed Naturally dries quickly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is fluted Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Bole length is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 30-40 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Moderately easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Permeable heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is moderately resistant Permeable Resistance to Splitting Good Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to sand Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Turns with moderate ease Finish is generally satisfactory Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Suitable for peeling Veneers moderately easy Suitable for slicing No drying degrade Good gluing qualities Easy to cut No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Difficult to glue Strength Properties Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Max. crushing strength = high Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7711 12078 psi Density 30 lbs/ft3 Maximum Crushing Strength 4662 7284 psi Shearing Strength 1391 psi Stiffness 1358 1568 1000 psi Weight 29 25 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 542 849 kg/cm2 Density 480 kg/m3 Maximum Crushing Strength 327 512 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 97 kg/cm2 Stiffness 95 110 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 464 400 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % References Gua, B.E.,1988,Observation on timber samples of eighteen research and plantation species,Forest Research Note, Solomon Islands Forestry Division Number 53 21/88 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 Peh, T.B. and Khoo, K.C.,1984,Timber Properties of Acacia mangium, Gmelina arborea, Paraserianthes,falcataria and their utilization aspects.,The Malaysian Forester, Vol.47, No.4, pp.285-303. Salleh, M.N. and W.C. Wong,1989,Utilization of Forest Plantation Trees.,Recent Developments in Tree,Plantations of Humid/Subhumid Tropics of Asia, 5-9 June 1989 Universiti,Pertanian Malaysia Proceedings of a Regional Symposium,Faculty of Forestry Universiti Pertanian Malaysia Scharai-rad, M. and Kambey, E.,1989,The Wood of Acacia mangium Willd. Its Properties and Possible Uses.,GFG German Forestry Group, Mulawarman University, Indonesia, Report No.14,1-12 U.S.A. National Research Council,1983,Mangium and other Acacias of the Humid Tropics,National Academy Press, Washington, U.S.A. Yoji Kikata (ed.,1991,The promotion of Lesser-known Species and Plantation-grown species,Proceedings of the International Forest Products Workshop, 14 to 15,October, 1991, Nagoya University, Japan