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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 Certified Source 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 Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Cedrela toona Trade Name Toon Family Name Meliaceae Synonyms Toona australis, Toona surenii, Cedrela febrifuga, Cedrela toona Common Names Australian cedar, Australian red cedar, Australian red-cedar, Belandi, Bobich, Burm, Burma cedar, Cedre rouge, Cedro, Chikado, Devdari, Drawi, Epi, Goria nim, Grawa, Henduri poma, Horeni, Huruk, Indian cedar, Ingoe, Kalkilingi, Kapere, Kashitka, Katangai, Kempu gandagheri, Ki beureum, Kujya, Kuruk, Ladet, Linoe, Lud, Madagiri vembu, Mafus, Maha limbu, Mahalimo, Mahanim, Maharim, Mahlun, Mali, Moulmein cedar, Moulmem cedar, Mufus, Ni, Noge, Poma, Queensland red cedar, Red cedar, Redani, Sandani vembu, Shuruzbed, Simal, Soeren, Somso, Soren, Suli, Suntang putch, Tawtama, Thitkado, Todu, Toon, Toona, Tseekado, Tundu, Tuni, Vedi vembu, Yom hom, Yomhom, Yomhorm, Youhom, Youhorm Regions of Distribution Africa, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Australia, Burma, Hawaii [US], India, Indonesia, Kenya, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda Common Uses Baskets, Bedroom suites, Bent Parts, Blinds, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Cigar boxes, Clogs, Concealed parts (Furniture), Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Door, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Drum sticks, Excelsior, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Food containers, Furniture , Furniture, Interior trim, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Light construction, Matches, Mine timbers, Model airplanes, Musical instruments , Musical instruments, Ornamental work , Packing cases, Paneling , Paneling, Planks, Plywood, Poles, Pulp/Paper products, Shingles, Shutters, Sporting Goods, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Windows Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Rare Secure in many areas of its range Distribution Overview India and Burma as well as scattered in evergreen and moist, mixed deciduous forests throughout Southeast Asia including Australia. Heartwood Color Yellow Brown Orange Green/grey Red Grey Reddish brown Red Pale red to pink Dark brown The heartwood is pale brown, cedar brown, dark red brown, or brick red when first cut. It darkens upon exposure to a rich reddish brown with darker brown streaks Sapwood Color White Yellow Red White to yellow Paler than heartwood Grain Straight Figure Interlocked Closed Even Distinct (figure) Growth rings (figure) Wavy Other (figure) Straight Interlocked Distinct figure Clear growth rings (figure) Wavy Straight to interlocked Other figure Quartersawn surfaces are reported to show fiddleback or ribbon-like figures. Texture Medium Fine Coarse Coarse Medium to coarse Uneven The texture is moderately close Luster Lustrous Natural Growth Defects Whitish deposits in vessels Essels are often filled with gummy deposits. Natural Durability Non-durable Perishable Durable Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Non durable Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Moderately resistant to decay The wood is moderately resistant to attack by insects, but is susceptible to attack by drywood termites, Anobium borers, and Lyctus. In Australia, trees are often attacked by Hypsipyla robusta . Plantation material has very little natural resistance to attack by decay fungi Odor The wood has a strong, fragrant, long-lasting spicy odor. It has no characteristic taste. Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Drying (speed) is fast Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Discoloration Distortion Moderate twist/warp Moderate cupping Slight surface checking Moderate collapse and honeycombing Slight cupping Slight collapse and honeycomb Collapse Collapse may be quite appreciable, especially near knots, but the wood can be reconditioned. The trees are usually girdled and quickly converted after harvesting to avoid degrade Ease of Drying Rapidly Reconditioning Treatement Fairly Easy Easy Moderate Dries at a fairly rapid rate The wood should be kiln dried and allowed to condition while spacing stickers closely and weighting the stacks Kiln Drying Rate Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is fluted Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 0-10 m Tree height is 40-50 m Certified Source Certified Source Comments Brittleheart and tension wood may be present General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Blunting effect on machining is slight Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Good carving qualities Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Easy to saw Plantation material saws easily, but growth stresses can cause end-splitting and springing in logs Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Moderate gluing properties Glues satisfactorily Easy to glue Mortising Fair to Good Results Moulding Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Stable Nailing Fair to Good Results Pre-Boring Recommended Holds satisfactorily Easy to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Slight dulling of cutters Ease of planing is moderate Very sharp cutting edges are recommended for best results in machining quartersawn material Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is resistant Heartwood is permeable Sapwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is extremely resistant Heartwood permeability varies from permeable to resistant to impregnation Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Sanding Good sanding finish Some material may produce a woolly finish Screwing Fair to Good Results Pre-boring recommended Easy to screw Screwing yields satisfactory results Fair screwing qualities (expect < 70% of screwed pieces to be free from complete splits) Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good results Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Pieces sliced into veneers are reported to often have a fine silver-grain ray figure Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Poor Painting Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results The material takes both water and oil-based paints well. Polishing Fair to Good Results Good results Satisfactory results Staining Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Stains well Finish is generally satisfactory Varnishing Very Good to Excellent Results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = low Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = low Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = small Max. crushing strength = medium Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Bending strength (MOR) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Hardness (side grain) = soft Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 15-22 lbs/cu. ft. Weight = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Hardness = medium Compression strength (parallel to grain) = low Bending strength (MOR) = high The wood has high density and resists denting and marring about as well as white oak or birch Numerical Data