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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 Carving 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 Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Castanospermum australe Trade Name Blackbean Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Bean tree, Beantree, Black bean, Blackbean, Moreton Bay bean, Moreton Bay chestnut Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Australia, India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Vanuatu Common Uses Bedroom suites, Bent Parts, Blockboard, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Cutting surfaces, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Inlay work, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Musical instruments, Office furniture, Ornamental work , Paneling, Plywood, Poles, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Sporting Goods, Stools, Tables , Toys, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Walking sticks, Wardrobes Environmental Profile The environmental status of this species within its geographical boundaries has not been officially determined Distribution Overview This Australian species is distributed sparsely in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. It lives in forests with very high annual rainfall. Heartwood Color Brown Red Purple Pink Green/grey Dark brown Black Brown The heartwood is medium brown to dark chocolate brown, occasionally with darker streaks. It is reported to darken to almost black with age Sapwood Color White Pink Yellow White to yellow Well defined Grain Interlocked Straight Distinct (figure) Very fine Figure Even Stripe (figure) Rippled (figure) Interlocked Straight Figure occurrence is very fine and distinct Striped figure Rippled figure Generally straight, but not always Distinct figure Texture Medium Coarse Medium to coarse Coarse Uneven The wood has an oily feel. Luster Medium Natural Growth Defects Whitish deposits in vessels Natural Durability Durable Very durable Susceptible to insect attack Moderately durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Very durable Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Heartwood resistant to termites, beetles and other wood borers Odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Respiratory effects Dermatitic effects Unspecified toxicity Sawdust can cause nose irritation in some individuals Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Air drying prior to kiln drying is suggested Drying Defects Internal Honeycombing Possible Collapse Splitting Checking Distortion Severe collapse and honeycomb Severe surface checking Moderate collapse and honeycombing Slight twist/warp Severe twisting/warping Severe end splitting No surface checking Moderate twist/warp Moderate surface checking Considerable degrade in the form of internal checking and collapse can be minimized or prevented if care and special attention is given during drying. Stock should be closely stickered and ends baffled to control checking Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Difficult Requires care and special attention Should be air-dried slowly and covered before kiln-drying with a mild schedule followed by a reconditioning treatment Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly 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 buttressed Tree Size Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 40-50 m Bole length is 20-30 m Product Sources Lumber is available from sources in Australia, and veneers can be purchased at very expensive prices. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good The species is described as an ornamental as well as a valuable source of timber. The green seeds are poisonous to livestock. Blunting Effect Little Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Easy Carving Good carving qualities Cutting Resistance The timber saws well, but mineral content is reported to make it somewhat difficult to cut with ordinary tools Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Difficult to glue Response to gluing is variable because of the greasy nature of the wood Mortising Good mortising properties Moulding Good moulding properties Movement in Service Medium Seasoned timber has moderate dimensional stability, and exhibits medium movement in use Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Easy to nail Satisfactory nailing properties Planing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Ease of planing is moderate Material is somewhat difficult to work with ordinary tools because of mineral matter. Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is untreatable Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Variable qualities Moderate working qualities Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Good in both routing and recessing. Sanding Fair sanding qualities Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good screw holding properties Easy to screw Difficult to screw Turning Very good Turns with moderate ease Veneering Qualities Suitable for slicing Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy Suitable for peeling There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Moderately easy to veneer Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Poor Wood is very brittle Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Satisfactory results Good results Blackbean takes a high and lustrous natural polish. Staining Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Stains well Finish is generally satisfactory Finished wood is very attractive because of its color and prominent vessel lines Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = very small Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Weight = heavy Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high The wood is high in density Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9310 14566 psi Density 45 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1658 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 6899 9945 psi Shearing Strength 1560 psi Stiffness 1916 2208 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.64 Weight 44 35 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 15 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 654 1024 kg/cm2 Density 721 kg/m3 Hardness 752 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 485 699 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 109 kg/cm2 Stiffness 134 155 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.64 Weight 705 560 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % 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 - Forest Products Newsletter,1961,Properties of Australian timbers - Blackbean,Australia C.S.I.R.O. Division of Forest Products Newsletter 279 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.,1976,Timber and Health,Div. Building Res. C.S.I.R.O. Australia 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 Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Corner, E.J.H.,1941,Further notes on Moreton Bay chestnut,M.A.H.A. Magazine 11(4) pp151-4 Eddowes, P.J. 1977. Commercial Timbers of Papua New Guinea - Their Properties and Uses. Forest Products Research Center, Office of Forests, Department of Primary Industry, Papua New Guinea. Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO Francis, W.D.,1951,Australian Rain-forest Trees,Commonwealth of Australia - Forestry and Timber Bureau Gay, F.J., Et al,1955,Standard laboratory colonies of termites for evaluating the resistance of,timber, timber preservatives and other materials to termite attack.,C.S.I.R.O., Australia Bulletin,No.277 Harrar, E.S.,1942,Some Physical Properties of Modern Cabinet Woods 3. Directional and Volume,Shrinkage,Tropical Woods,9(71, pp26-32 Hearne, D.A.,1975,Trees for Darwin and Northern Australia,Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra 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 Jackson, A. and D. Day. 1991. Good Wood Handbook - The Woodworker's Guide to Identifying, Selecting and Using the Right Wood. Betterway Publications, Cincinnati, Ohio. Jane, F.W.,1954,The Structure of World Timbers 27 Iroko - Fustic - Black Bean,Timber Technology,62(2186, pp603-5 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 Kingston, R.S.T., Risdon, C.J.E.,1961,Shrinkage and Density of Australian and other South-West Pacific Woods,C.S.I.R.O. Division of Forest Products Technological Paper No.13 Kline, M. 1983. Castanospermum australe - Blackbean. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 94-95. Limaye, V.D. and B.R. Sen. 1956. Weights and Specific Gravities of Indian Woods. Indian Forest Records (New Series). Timber Mechanics. Vol