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Blunting Effect
Boring
Comments
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Distribution Overview
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
Family Name
Gluing
Grain
Heartwood Color
Kiln Drying Rate
Kiln Schedules
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Painting
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Strength Properties
Synonyms
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning

Scientific Name
Agathis australis

Trade Name
Cowdie

Family Name
Araucariaceae

Synonyms
Dammara australis


Wood Image 1

Common Names
Cowdie, Cowdie pine, Cowrie, Kauri, Kauri pine, Kaurie, Kawri, New Zealand kauri, New Zealand kauri pine, New Zealand pine, New Zealand pitch tree, Southern dammar

Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
New Zealand

Common Uses
Boat building (general), Boat building: decking, Boat building: masts, Boxes and crates, Bridge construction, Cabinetmaking, Chemical derivatives, Flooring, Food containers, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Matches, Paneling, Pencil, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Shade rollers, Shingles, Turnery, Vats, Veneer

Distribution Overview
This species is found on the northern peninsula of the North Island of New Zeland, at low elevations (Silba 1986). It lives in forests which include Podocarpus totara, Dacrydium cupressinum, and Podocarpus ferruginoides.

Heartwood Color
Brown
Yellow
Orange
Red
Green/grey
White
Purple
Black
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Brown
Greenish to greyish
Pale brown
Reddish brown
White to cream
Red
Dark brown
Dark brown


Sapwood Color
Green/Grey
Red
Brown
Yellow
White
Paler than heartwood
Well defined
Color not distinct from heartwood


Grain
Straight
Figure
Mottled (figure)
Growth rings (figure)
Even
Closed
Distinct (figure)
Wavy
Rays (figure)
Variable (figure)

Straight
Mottled figure
Clear growth rings (figure)
Wavy
Variable figure
Rays figure
Distinct figure


Texture
Fine
Fine


Luster
Medium
Lustrous


Natural Durability
Moderately durable
Durable
Susceptible to insect attack
Perishable
Non-durable
Non-resistant to termites
Resistant to powder post beetles
Moderately durable
Durable
Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present
Non durable


Kiln Schedules
Dry at a moderate speed
Drying (speed) is fast
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid
Dry at a slow speed


Drying Defects
Distortion
Checking
Slight surface checking
Moderate twist/warp
Slight twist/warp


Ease of Drying
Fairly Easy
Rapidly
Slowly
Moderately Difficult to Difficult
Easy
Moderate


Kiln Drying Rate
Naturally dries at a moderate speed
Naturally dries quickly
Naturally dries slowly
Rapid
Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast
Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm)


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is straight


Tree Size
Tree height is 30-40 m
Tree height is 40-50 m
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm
Bole length is 20-30 m
Tree height is 20-30 m
Bark width is greather than 50 mm
Bole length is 30-40 m
Trunk diameter is 300-350 cm
Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm
Tree height is 50-60 m
Bole length is 10-20 m
Bark width is 40-50 mm
Sapwood width is 10-15 cm
Bark width is 25-30 mm
Trunk diameter is 250-300 cm
Sapwood width is 5-10 cm


Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect
Little
Moderate
Blunting effect on machining is slight
Blunting effect on machining is moderate


Boring
Fairly easy to very easy
Easy


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy


Gluing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to glue


Mortising
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Finishes satisfactorily
Easy to mortise


Moulding
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Good finishing results
Easy to mould


Movement in Service
Excellent Stability - Small Movement
Stable


Nailing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Holds nails well
Easy to nail


Planing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Planes well, to a good finish
Easy to plane


Resistance to Impregnation
Resistant heartwood
Resistant sapwood
Heartwood is resistant
Heartwood is extremely resistant


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to Work
Easy to machine


Routing & Recessing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Routing is easy


Screwing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Screwing yields good results
Easy to screw


Turning
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Good results
Easy to turn


Painting
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Good results


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


Staining
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Staining (Characteristic) = non-staining
Finish is generally good


Strength Properties
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Max. crushing strength = medium
Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium
Bending strength (MOR) = medium
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Hardness (side grain) = very soft
Hardness (side grain) = soft
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low
Max. crushing strength = low
Shrinkage, Tangential = very small
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft.
Bending strength (MOR) = high


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength853513337psi
Density35lbs/ft3
Hardness657lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength36205984psi
Shearing Strength1269psi
Stiffness158918351000 psi
Weight3427lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage2%
Tangential Shrinkage5%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength600937kg/cm2
Density560kg/m3
Hardness298kg
Maximum Crushing Strength254420kg/cm2
Shearing Strength89kg/cm2
Stiffness1111291000 kg/cm2
Weight544432kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage2%

References
Bier, H.,1983,The strength properties of small clear specimens of New Zealand-grown,timber,New Zealand Forest Service Forest Research Institute, FRI Bulletin No.41

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 8 Australasia,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London

Cockayne, L. and Phillips Turner, E.,1958,The trees of New Zealand,New Zealand Forest Service Information Series No.12

Dallimore, W. and Jackson, A. Bruce,1966,A Handbook of Coniferae and Ginkgoaceae Fourth Ed. Revised by S.G.,Harrison,Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd. London

Entrican, A.R.,1949,The properties and uses of Kauri (Agathis australis,New Zealand Forest Service Information Series No.7

Forest Products Research Laboratory U.K.,1957,A Handbook of Softwoods,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research,HMSO

Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1945,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research

Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed.

Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12

Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press

Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London

Smith, S.W. and Entrican, A.R.,1957,Forestry in New Zealand,New Zealand Forest Service Information Series No.1

Stone, H.,1924,The Timbers of Commerce and their Identification,William Rider & Sons Ltd. London

Timber Development Association Ltd.,1955,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Timber Development Association Ltd.

Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition









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