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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 Environmental Profile Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Light-Induced Color Change Luster Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Doryphora sassafras Trade Name Sassafras Family Name Monimiaceae Common Names Canary sassafras, Golden deal, Grey sassafras, Sassafras, Yellow sassafras Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Australia Common Uses Boxes and crates, Brush backs & handles, Cabinetmaking, Flooring, Furniture, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Tool handles, Turnery, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Status unknown due to inadequate information Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Australia, in the brushwood forests throughout the coastal regions of Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Red Orange Purple Black Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Brown Yellowish to greenish Greenish to greyish Sapwood Color White Yellow Red Green/Grey Grain Even Straight Straight Texture Fine Fine Luster Low Natural Durability Moderately durable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to powder post beetles Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Sapwood immune to lyctus attack Heartwood has very low resistance to decay Light-Induced Color Change Darker Drying Defects Distortion Splitting Checking Slight cupping Slight collapse and honeycomb No surface checking Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Moderately Difficult to Difficult Slowly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries at a moderate speed Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Comments Although a hardwood, the timber is mistakenly referred to as a softwood in trade. General finishing qualities are rated as good Boring Fairly easy to very easy Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Moderate to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Ease of planing is moderate Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is permeable Sapwood is permeable Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to Work Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moderately easy Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Easy to cut Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = medium Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Hardness (side grain) = soft Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7677 11888 psi Crushing Strength 549 1085 psi Density 36 lbs/ft3 Hardness 972 lbs Impact Strength 15 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 4163 6899 psi Shearing Strength 1603 psi Static Bending 4381 8820 psi Stiffness 1374 1598 1000 psi Toughness 109 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.45 0.49 Weight 35 28 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 539 835 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 38 76 kg/cm2 Density 576 kg/m3 Hardness 440 kg Impact Strength 38 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 292 485 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 112 kg/cm2 Static Bending 308 620 kg/cm2 Stiffness 96 112 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 125 cm-kg Specific Gravity 0.45 0.49 Weight 560 448 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % References Audas, J.W.,Native Trees of Australia,Whitcombe & Tombs PTY. Ltd Australia - N.S.W. Forestry Commission,1968,Working Properties of some Native and Imported Timbers,Forestry Commission of New South Wales, Technical Publication No.8 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. and N. H. Kloot. 1963. The Mechanical Properties of 174 Australian Timbers. Technological Paper No. 25. Division of Forest Products, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Melbourne, Australia. Bolza, E., Kloot, N.H.,1963,The Mechanical Properties of 174 Australian Timbers,C.S.I.R.O. Division of Forest Products Technological Paper,No.25 Cause, M.L, E.J. Rudder, and W.T. Knyaston. 1989. Queensland Timbers - Their Nomenclature, Density and Lyctid Susceptibility. Technical Pamphlet No. 2. Timber Research and Extension Branch, Department of Forestry, Queensland, Australia. Forestry Commission of New South Wales,1987,Timbers used in New South Wales for Domestic Buildings,Forestry Commission of New South Wales, Technical Publication No.6 Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. McCombe, B.M.,1968,Trials of British Solomon Island species for plywood manufacture,C.S.I.R.O. Division of Forest Products Laboratory Report No.1 Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press Smith, W.J., W.T. Knyaston, M.L. Cause, and J.G. Grimmett. 1991. Building Timbers - Properties and Recommendations for their Uses in Queensland. Technical Pamphlet No. 1. Queensland Forest Service, Department of Primary Industries, Queensland, Australia. Stewart, A.M., Kloot, N.H.,1957,Mechanical Properties of Timbers,C.S.I.R.O., Australia Bulletin,No.279 The Australian Timber Journal & Building Products, Merchandiser,1969,Timber Durability and Preservation,Supplement to Australian Timber Journal 35(4) Tech. Timb. Guide No.8 Wallis, N.K. 1956. Australian Timber Handbook. Sponsored by The Timber Development Association of Australia. Angus & Robertson, Ltd., 89 Castlereagh Street, Sydney, Australia.