Search for

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 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 Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Eucalyptus diversicolor Trade Name Karri Family Name Myrtaceae Common Names Karri Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Australia Common Uses Agricultural implements, Beams, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Bridge beams, Bridge construction, Bridge joists, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Construction, Domestic flooring, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery, Ladders, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Parquet flooring, Piling, Plywood, Rafters, Railroad ties, Roofing, Sporting Goods, Structural work, Sub-flooring, Toys, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Wharf construction Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Southwestern Australia Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Reddish brown Red Dark brown Pale red to pink Purple Sapwood Color Paler than heartwood Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Interlocked Figure Stripe (figure) Closed Even Straight Rippled (figure) Wavy Interlocked Striped figure Straight Wavy Rippled figure Striped figure on quartersawn surfaces. Texture Moderately coarse Medium Medium to coarse Even textured Natural Growth Defects Gum/resin streaks Natural Durability Moderately durable Moderately durable Durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Sapwood resistant to powder post beetle attack. Resistant to decay Odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Partial air-drying before kiln drying is recommended. Drying Defects Collapse Internal Honeycombing Possible Slight twist/warp Severe surface checking Moderate surface checking Slight collapse and honeycomb Moderate end spitting The material may check severely on tangential surfaces, and checks may deepen in thicker stock under adverse conditions. Thin stock is liable to warp. Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Requires special attention Easy Radial and tangential shrinkage tends to be rather large. Difficult Partial air-drying before kiln-drying is recommended. Kiln drying from green should be done at low temperatures and high humidities Kiln Drying Rate Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Size Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 50-60 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Substitutes Kamerere (Eucalyptus deglupta) Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good The timber is similar in appearance to Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata ). Dry heartwood splinter test can be used to differentiate between the two: karri burns to a thick white ash, while jarrah burns to a black, ashless charcoal. Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe High effect Blunting effect on machining is severe Boring Difficult Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Difficult to saw Gluing Moderate gluing properties Satisfactory gluing properties Easy to glue Movement in Service Not stable/prone to move Large Nailing Difficult to nail Holds nails well Planing Ease of planing is moderate Difficult to plane Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is highly resistant Sapwood is permeable Sapwood is treatable Response to Hand Tools Difficult to machine Moderate working qualities Rather difficult to work with hand tools, especially quartersawn stock. Screwing Screwing yields good results Turning Difficult to turn Veneering Qualities There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Steam Bending Moderate Polishing Good results Satisfactory results Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Max. crushing strength = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Bending strength (MOR) = high Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Hardness (side grain) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = large Hardness (side grain) = hard Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = large Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu.ft Toughness (total work) = medium Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Max. crushing strength = low Bending strength (MOR) = very high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 11507 19142 psi Crushing Strength 1086 1509 psi Density 56 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2010 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 6140 10266 psi Shearing Strength 2159 psi Static Bending 6468 11368 psi Stiffness 2177 2700 1000 psi Toughness 260 inch-lbs Work to Maximum Load 11 19 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.63 0.8 Weight 54 53 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 10 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 809 1345 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 76 106 kg/cm2 Density 897 kg/m3 Hardness 911 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 431 721 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 151 kg/cm2 Static Bending 454 799 kg/cm2 Stiffness 153 189 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 299 cm-kg Work to Maximum Load 0.77 1.33 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.63 0.8 Weight 865 849 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % References Audas, J.W.,Native Trees of Australia,Whitcombe & Tombs PTY. Ltd 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 Banks, C.H.,1954,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with Particular Reference to those,grown in the Union of South Africa,Journal of the South African Forestry Association,No. 24 pp.44-65,[South,African Forestry Journal] Boas, I.H.,1947,The Commercial Timbers of Australia - Their Properties and Uses,Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Melbourne Bolza, E., Keating, W.G.,1972,African Timbers - the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 700 Species,C.S.I.R.O. Div. of Building Research Bolza, E., Kloot, N. H. 1963. The Mechanical Properties of 174 Australian Timbers. Technological Paper No. 25. Division of Forest Products, Center for Scientific and Industrial Organization (CSIRO, 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 Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 8 Australasia,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO 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 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 Hillis, W.E. and A.G. Brown, Editors. 1984. Eucalyptus for Wood Production. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Academic Press, Australia. HMSO. 1972. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. Kloot, N.H. and E. Bolza. 1961. Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia. Division of Forest Products Technological Paper No. 12. Commonwealth scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Melbourne, Australia Kukachka, B.F.,1970,Properties of Imported Tropical Woods,Forest Research Paper FPL 125 Lauricio, F.M., Bellosillo, S.B.,1966,Fifth Progress Report on the Mechanical and Related Properties of,Philippine woods,Philippine Lumberman,12(5,p66 Lavers, G. M. 1966. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50. Ministry of Technology, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. Lavers, G.M.,1983,The Strength Properties of Timber (3rd ed. revised Moore G.L.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Report (formerly Bulletin No.50) Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California. 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 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 Scott, M.H.,1953,Utilisation Notes on South African Timbers,South African Forestry Department Bulletin No.36 South African Lumber Millers Assoc.,1969,Notes on some Commercially Available Hardwoods,S.A.L.M.A. Timber Info. Centre Timber Technical Guide,No.1 Stewart, A.M., Kloot, N.H.,1957,Mechanical Properties of Timbers,C.S.I.R.O., Australia Bulletin,No.279 T.R.A.D.A.,1982,Timbers for river and sea constructions,TRADA Wood Information Section 0, Sheet 6 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 U.S.D.A. Forest Service,1974,Wood Handbook,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Handbook,72 Wallis, N.K. 1956. Australian Timber Handbook. Sponsored by The Timber Development Association of Australia. Angus & Robertson, Ltd., 89 Castlereagh Street, Sydney, Australia.