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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
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Odor
Planing
Polishing
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
Trade Name
Tree Size
Turning
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Celtis nymanii

Trade Name
Light celtis

Family Name
Ulmaceae

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Light celtis

Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands

Common Uses
Balusters, Barge fenders, Building construction, Building materials, Construction, Docks, Dockwork, Domestic flooring, Excelsior, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Flooring, Foundation posts, Harbor work, Interior construction, Joinery, Light construction, Marine construction, Moldings, Naval architecture, Parquet flooring, Poles, Posts, Raft floats, Rafts, Shakes, Sheathing, Shingles, Siding, Stair rails, Stairworks, Stakes, Stringers, Sub-flooring, Utility poles, Wharf construction

Environmental Profile
The environmental status of this species within its geographical boundaries has not been officially determined.

Distribution Overview
Southeast Asia, primarily in Papua New Gunea and the Solomon Islands.

Heartwood Color
Brown
Red
Pink
Purple
Black
Yellowish brown
Light brown
Almost white


Sapwood Color
Green/Grey
Red
Brown
Clearly differentiated from the heartwood


Grain
Even
Closed
Figure
Irregular
Straight
Wavy

Wavy
Straight
Irregular


Texture
Fine
Fine to medium


Luster
Low


Natural Durability
Non-durable
Susceptible to insect attack
Resistant to powder post beetles
Perishable
Non-resistant to termites
Decay's readily

Immediate extraction from the forest and drying of the timber, or application of suitable fungicides on site, are essential to avoid deterioration of the wood

Odor
No specific smell or taste


Drying Defects
Distortion
Splitting
Collapse
Internal Honeycombing Possible
Checking
Moderate end spitting

Tension wood may cause twisting and warping, and staining fungi may cause degrade in logs

Ease of Drying
Fairly Easy
Rapidly
Slowly
Air dries and kiln dries slowly with minimal degrade


Kiln Drying Rate
Rapid
Naturally dries slowly
Naturally dries quickly
Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast


Tree Size
Tree height is 30-40 m
Tree height is 20-30 m
Tree height is 10-20 m


Comments
The timbers are tough and suitable for many exterior uses after treatment. Properties are dependent upon conditions at growing sites. Tension wood may also be present in the wood

Varies significantly

Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw


Gluing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Mortising
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Moulding
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Nailing
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Difficult to nail


Planing
Planes well, to a good finish
Easy to plane


Resistance to Abrasion
Highly resistant to wear

Suitable for exterior applications after proper protection against decay.

Resistance to Impregnation
Permeable heartwood
Permeable sapwood
Sapwood is permeable
Heartwood is permeable


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to Work
Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work
Difficult to machine


Sanding
Fair sanding qualities


Screwing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results


Turning
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Veneering Qualities
Veneers easily
Suitable for peeling
Veneers moderately easy
No drying degrade


Steam Bending
Poor to Very Poor Results


Polishing
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Good results


Staining
Fair to Good Results
Stains very well


Strength Properties
Hardness = medium
Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high
Bending strength (MOR) = high

Density is high

Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength742811270psi
Crushing Strength191512psi
Density35lbs/ft3
Hardness708lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength39006684psi
Shearing Strength1323psi
Static Bending45777811psi
Stiffness135216951000 psi
Toughness91inch-lbs
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength522792kg/cm2
Crushing Strength1335kg/cm2
Density560kg/m3
Hardness321kg
Maximum Crushing Strength274469kg/cm2
Shearing Strength93kg/cm2
Static Bending321549kg/cm2
Stiffness951191000 kg/cm2

References
Bolza, E. and N. H. Kloot. 1966. The Mechanical Properties of 81 New Guinea Timbers. Technological Paper No. 41. Division of Forest Products, Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO, Melbourne, Australia.

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.

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