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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 Comments 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 Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Painting Planing Plantation species? Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Eucalyptus grandis Trade Name Blue gum Family Name Myrtaceae Common Names Blue gum, Eucalyptus, Flooded gum, Grandis gum, Kalitunsi, Rose gum, Saligna, Saligna gum, Sydney blue gum Plantation species? Yes Regions of Distribution Africa, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Australia, Congo, Madagascar, Malaysia, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Cabinetmaking, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery, Ladders, Light construction, Mine timbers, Paneling, Particleboard, Piling, Plywood, Poles, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Shingles, Sporting Goods, Toys, Turnery, Veneer, Wheel spokes, Wheels Heartwood Color Red Brown White to cream Red Pale red to pink Reddish brown Dark brown Brown Sapwood Color White to yellow Paler than heartwood Different than heartwood Grain Straight Even Interlocked Figure Stripe (figure) Straight Striped figure Interlocked Texture Fine Coarse Medium coarse Natural Growth Defects Gum/resin exudation Gum and mineral deposits Natural Durability Very durable Durable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Kiln Schedules UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 Drying Defects Moderate surface checking Moderate cupping Slight cupping Ease of Drying Slowly Difficult Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 0-10 m Tree height is 30-40 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is slight Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is moderate Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Gluing Easy to glue Nailing Easy to nail Holds satisfactorily Holds nails well Difficult to nail Planing Planes well, to a good finish Planes to a satisfactory finish Planes to a poor finish Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is resistant Heartwood is extremely resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Variable qualities Moderate working qualities Routing & Recessing Satisfactory routing results Moderately easy Sanding Good sanding finish Screwing Easy to screw Turning Turns with moderate ease Painting Good results Polishing Good results Staining Figure shows patterns other than those generally described Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Max. crushing strength = high Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Hardness (side grain) = soft Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = high Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Max. crushing strength = low Hardness (side grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 10816 16825 psi Density 39 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1353 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 5564 8321 psi Shearing Strength 1952 psi Stiffness 1809 2088 1000 psi Weight 38 30 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 760 1182 kg/cm2 Density 624 kg/m3 Hardness 613 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 391 585 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 137 kg/cm2 Stiffness 127 146 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 608 480 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % References 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 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 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,C.S.I.R.O. Division of Forest Products Technological Paper,No.25 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 Musokotwane, E.O.,1978,Utilization Potential of Plantation grown Eucalyptus grandis in the Mining,Industry in Zambia,Wood quality and utilization of tropical species. Proceedings, IUFRO,conference held at FORPRIDECOM, Laguna, Oct.30-Nov.3. Tamolang, F.N.(ed,164-177 Poynton, R.J.,1957,Notes on Exotic Forest Trees in South Africa (Second Edition, Revised,South African Forestry Department Bulletin No.38 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 The Australian Timber Journal & Building Products, Merchandiser,1969,Timber Durability and Preservation,Supplement to Australian Timber Journal 35(4) Tech. Timb. Guide No.8