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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 Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Abrasion Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Cardwellia sublimis Trade Name Silky oak Family Name Proteaceae Common Names Australian silky oak, Australian silky-oak, Bull oak, Gold spangled wood, Lacewood, Northern silky oak, Queensland silky oak, Selano, Silky oak Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Australia, India, New Zealand Common Uses Balusters, Baskets, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Brush backs & handles, Building construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Cooperages, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Drum sticks, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Fixtures, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Food containers, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Moldings, Musical instruments , Musical instruments, Paneling , Paneling, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Shingles, Tables, Toys, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Status unknown due to inadequate information Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Queensland, Australia, especially in the northern coastal areas. Heartwood Color Brown Red Purple Pale red to pink Reddish brown Brown Color changes with age Sapwood Color White Brown Red White White to yellow Sapwood is narrow Grain Figure Straight Distinct (figure) Other (figure) Rays (figure) Even Straight Distinct figure Other figure Rays figure Generally straight, but not always Generally straight, but not always Large and prominent wood rays are reported to produce a distinct and an attractive silver grain figure on quartersawn surfaces. Texture Coarse Coarse Medium coarse to coarse Medium Even textured Luster Lustrous Pronounced Natural Growth Defects Whitish deposits in vessels Reddish gum present in the wood Gum/resin exudation Natural Durability Non-durable Perishable Susceptible to insect attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately durable Durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the standing tree Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Perishable Non durable Heartwood moderately resistant to decay Timber that is freshly sawn is susceptible to attack by pinhole borers Odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Dermatitic effects Both green wood and sawdust have been associated with dermatic effects. Kiln Schedules UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid T3 - C2 (4/4); T3 - C1 (8/4) US Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Splitting Checking Discoloration Distortion Slight surface checking Slight problems with collapse and honeycomb Slight cupping Severe cupping Expect splits Distortion (twist/warp) is likely Wide flat sawn material may cup severely if unrestrained Ease of Drying Thick Stock Requires Care Medium to High Shrinkage Requires special attention Moderately Difficult to Difficult Fairly Easy Variable Easy Variable results. Special attention required Moderate Dries slowly Difficult to season Air-Drying followed by mild kiln schedule may prevent or minimize degrade Kiln Drying Rate 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 not buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is misshapen Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Product Sources Supplies are adequate for local consumption in Australia, but high shipping costs limit its availability on the U.S. and European markets. When available, they are often sold in 1 inch (2.54 cm) thicknesses by 14 feet (4 m) lengths at very high prices Comments General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Silky oak has a striking figure, varying from a small lacelike pattern to a large splashlike figure. It is light and soft, yet firm, strong and tough. The timber is popular as a highly ornamental wood, and is used for furniture, paneling, and similar decorative uses. Blunting Effect High to severe Blunting effect on machining is slight Medium effect Boring Very good to excellent results Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Moderately easy Cutting Resistance Low resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Large ray cells can cause crumbling Gluing Easy to glue Satisfactory gluing properties Moderate gluing properties Mortising Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mortise Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mould Use a reduced cutting angle of 20 degrees for best results Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Medium Stable Moderately stable after seasoning. Medium movement in use Nailing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to nail Holds nails well No pre-boring is required Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Special attention required Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Does not plan to a good finish For best results use sharp cutters and a reduced cutting angle of 20 degrees. Dull cutters may cause some picking up in planing of quartersawn material Resistance to Abrasion Highly resistant to wear Good for flooring Suitable for flooring in heavy traffic areas due to high reistance to wear Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is moderately resistant Sapwood is permeable Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Good response Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good sanding qualities Screwing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to screw Good screw holding properties Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very good Special attention required Special care required to attain smooth surfaces. Wood may crumble due to large rays Veneering Qualities Easy to cut Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Moderately easy to veneer Steam Bending Very Good to Excellent Results Very good Good Polishing Fair to Good Results Satisfactory results Good results Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Stains well Finish is generally good Strength Properties Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = small Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = small Weight = moderate Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Compression strength (parallel to grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Bending strength of the species is considered medium, being much weaker than White oak or Teak in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content). Compression strength parallel to grain, or maximum crushing strength, is medium. It is lower in this property than Teak. The weight is moderate. The density is high. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 6110 9521 psi Density 35 lbs/ft3 Maximum Crushing Strength 3126 5684 psi Shearing Strength 1463 psi Stiffness 1122 1293 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.49 Weight 34 28 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 429 669 kg/cm2 Density 560 kg/m3 Maximum Crushing Strength 219 399 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 102 kg/cm2 Stiffness 78 90 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.49 Weight