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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 Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Eucalyptus botryoides Trade Name Australian southern mahogany Family Name Myrtaceae Common Names Australian southern mahogany, Bangalay, Botryoides gum, Gippsland mahogany, Mahogany, Mahogany gum, Southern mahongany Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Australia Common Uses Boat building (general), Cabinetmaking, Fuelwood, Furniture, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Light construction, Paneling, Posts, Railroad ties, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer Heartwood Color Red Brown Purple Pink Reddish brown Red Sapwood Color Brown Different than heartwood Grain Even Interlocked Straight Interlocked Straight Texture Medium Coarse Even or uniform Uniform Medium Medium to coarse Coarse Natural Durability Durable Susceptible to insect attack Moderately durable Non-durable Resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Perishable Non-resistant to marine borers Sapwood resistant to powder post beetle Durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Moderately durable Odor Has an odor Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Checking Distortion Splitting Collapse Internal Honeycombing Possible Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Moderately Difficult to Difficult Medium to High Shrinkage Kiln Drying Rate Slow Drying rate is slow Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Tree Size Trunk diameter is 250-300 cm Tree height is 50-60 m Tree height is 60-70 m Tree height is 40-50 m Bole length is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 300-350 cm Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Bole length is 30-40 m Tree height is greater than 70 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Trunk diameter is 350-400 cm Blunting Effect High to severe Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Poor to very poor results Easy Carving Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Moulding Good finishing results Movement in Service Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Possible if prebored Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor to Very Poor Results Planes well, to a good finish Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Responds Poorly Easy to Work Sanding Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to sand Screwing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Possible if prebored Turning Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor to Very Poor Results Good results Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Staining Fair to Good Results Strength Properties Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Max. crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = high Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu.ft Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Max. crushing strength = medium Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Hardness (side grain) = medium Hardness (side grain) = hard Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 12025 18632 psi Density 56 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1987 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 6302 9236 psi Shearing Strength 2365 psi Stiffness 2167 2494 1000 psi Weight 55 44 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 10 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 845 1309 kg/cm2 Density 897 kg/m3 Hardness 901 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 443 649 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 166 kg/cm2 Stiffness 152 175 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 881 705 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % References Banks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48 Boas, I.H.,1947,The Commercial Timbers of Australia - Their Properties and Uses,Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Melbourne 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 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 Gerhards, C.C.,1963,Some Strength and Related Properties of Green Wood of Hawaiian Eucalyptus,saligna,Forest Products Laboratory, Forest Service, U.S. Department of,Agriculture, Research Note No. FPL-09 Haslett, A.N.,1990,Properties and utilisation of exotic speciality timbers grown in New,Zealand Part VI: Eastern Blue Gums and Stringy Barks Eucalyptus,botryoides, E.saligna, E.globoidea, E.muellerana, E.pilaruis,New Zealand Forest Service, Forest Research Institute, FRI Bulletin No.119 Murira, K.,1984,Natural Durability Tests of Tanzanian Timbers 1955 - 1982,Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Timber Utilisation Research Centre,,Moshi. Scott, M.H.,1935,Weights of South African Growth Timbers,South African Department of Agriculture and Forestry Bulletin,No.145,Forest Products Institute, Forestry Series No.1 Takahashi, A.,1978,Compilation of Data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part,III) Africa,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No. 7