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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 Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Planing Plantation species? Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Eucalyptus regnans Trade Name Australian mountain ash Family Name Myrtaceae Common Names Australian mountain ash, Australian swamp mahogany, Blood wood, Swamp gum, Swamp mahogany, Swamp messmate Plantation species? Yes Regions of Distribution Africa, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brazil, Kenya, New Zealand, South Africa Common Uses Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Furniture, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery, Ladders, Light construction, Mine timbers, Moldings, Paneling, Piling, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Turnery, Veneer Heartwood Color Yellow Brown Red Purple Orange Pale brown Pale red to pink Sapwood Color Color not distinct from heartwood Paler than heartwood Grain Straight Even Figure Growth rings (figure) Straight With distinct light and dark bands Texture Fine Medium coarse Coarse Natural Growth Defects Gum and mineral deposits Brittleheart is often frequent and extensive Natural Durability Very durable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to powder post beetles Resistant to termites Non durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Drying Defects Splitting Checking Moderate surface checking Moderate collapse and honeycombing Severe collapse and honeycomb Moderate cupping Ease of Drying Slowly Difficult Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Slow Drying rate is slow Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Bole length is 0-10 m Tree height is 0-10 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Boring Moderately easy Gluing Moderate gluing properties Planing Planes to a satisfactory finish Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is resistant Heartwood is extremely resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Screwing Easy to screw Turning Finish is generally satisfactory Veneering Qualities Moderately easy to veneer Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling Easy to cut Diifficult to veneer Polishing Satisfactory results Staining Finish is generally good Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Max. crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Hardness (side grain) = soft Hardness (side grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7711 12078 psi Density 38 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1326 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 5195 7917 psi Shearing Strength 1334 psi Stiffness 1512 1745 1000 psi Weight 37 30 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 542 849 kg/cm2 Density 608 kg/m3 Hardness 601 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 365 556 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 93 kg/cm2 Stiffness 106 122 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 592 480 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % References 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 Bryce, J.M.,1967,Commercial Timbers of Tanzania,Tanzanian Forestry Division Util. Sec. Moshi Haslett, A.N., Kininmonth, J.A., Revell, D.,1984,Utilisation of New Zealand-grown Eucalypts,What's New in Forest Research No.122 Haslett, A.N.,1988,Properties and utilisation of exotic speciality timbers grown in New,Zealand Part V: Ash Eucalypts and Eucalyptus nitens E. regans,,E.delegatensis, E.fastigata, E.obliqua, E.sieberi, E.fraxinoides, E.nitens,New Zealand Forest Service, Forest Research Institute, FRI Bulletin No.119 Poynton, R.J.,1957,Notes on Exotic Forest Trees in South Africa (Second Edition, Revised,South African Forestry Department Bulletin No.38 Takahashi, A.,1975,Compilation of data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part 2,Central and South America,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No.4