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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 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 Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service 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 Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Eucalyptus saligna Trade Name Blue Sydney gum Family Name Myrtaceae Common Names Blue gum, Blue Sydney gum, Eastern blue gum, Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus colorado, Flooded gum, Grandis gum, Kiviny, Rose gum, Saligna, Saligna gom, Saligna gum, Saligna-gom, Saligua gum, Sydney blue gum Plantation species? Yes Regions of Distribution Africa, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Hawaii [US], Kenya, Madagascar, New Zealand, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda Common Uses Boat building (general), Boat building: framing, Boxes and crates, Chairs, Charcoal, Chemical derivatives, Decks, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Fuelwood, Furniture, Handles: general, Handles: woodworking tools, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Mine timbers, Paneling, Particleboard, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Shingles, Sporting Goods, Tables, Tool handles, Toys, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Heartwood Color Brown Green/grey White Red Pink Pale red to pink Reddish brown Red White to cream Dark brown Brown Sapwood Color Brown Paler than heartwood White to yellow Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Different than heartwood Grain Straight Interlocked Figure Distinct (figure) Rippled (figure) Closed Wavy Even Generally straight, but not always Interlocked Distinct figure Rippled figure Wavy Texture Fine Uniform Even or uniform Coarse Medium coarse Medium Luster Low Natural Growth Defects Brittleheart is often frequent and extensive Natural Durability Durable Moderately durable Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Non durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Very durable Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Dry at a slow speed UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 Uk = C Drying Defects Splitting Checking Distortion Moderate end spitting Moderate collapse and honeycombing Moderate twist/warp Moderate surface checking Ease of Drying Slowly Thick Stock Requires Care Easy Kiln Drying Rate Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is slight Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Easy Moderately easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cutting Resistance both dry and green is variable Gluing Easy to glue Moderate gluing properties Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mortise Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good finishing results Easy to mould Movement in Service Large Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Poor to Very Poor Results Pre-boring recommended Easy to nail Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is resistant Sapwood is permeable Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Easy to sand Good sanding finish Screwing Pre-boring recommended Possible if prebored Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Poor results Finish is generally satisfactory Veneering Qualities Suitable for slicing Moderately easy to veneer Bolt preparation requires steaming Steam Bending Moderate Painting Good results Satisfactory results Polishing Fair to Good Results Good results Satisfactory results Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Finish is generally good Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = high Shrinkage, Tangential = large Bending strength (MOR) = medium Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Bending strength (MOR) = high Hardness (side grain) = soft Hardness (side grain) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = small Bending strength (MOR) = very low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 11101 17131 psi Density 48 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1273 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 6249 9207 psi Shearing Strength 1921 psi Stiffness 1876 2163 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 9 12 inch-lbs/in3 Weight 47 38 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Volumetric Shrinkage 14 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 780 1204 kg/cm2 Density 769 kg/m3 Hardness 577 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 439 647 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 135 kg/cm2 Stiffness 131 152 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.63 0.84 cm-kg/cm3 Weight 753 608 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % References Anderson, R.H.,1947,The Trees of New South Wales,New South Wales Department of Agriculture 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] Banks, C.H.,1970,The Durability of South African Wood and Wood Base Building Materials,South African Forestry Journal,No.75 Berni, C.A., Bolza, E., Christensen, F.J.,1979,South American Timbers - The Characteristics, Properties and Uses of 190,Species,C.S.I.R.O Div. Building Research 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 Bois, P.J.,1966,The Strength Properties of Tanzania Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi Tech. Note, No.35 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 Bootle, K.R.,1971,The Commercial Timbers of New South Wales and their use,Angus & Robertson (publishers) PTY Ltd Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 8 Australasia,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Cause, M.L., Et al,1974,The Nomenclature, Density and Lyctus - Susceptibility of Queensland,Timbers,Queensland Forestry Department Pamphlet 13 Elliot, C.S.,1959,Eucalyptus in Argentina,Unasylva 13(3) pp119-23 Evreinoff, V.A.,1947,Le Caraoubier ou Ceratonia siliqua L.,Rev. Int. Bot. Appl. Agric. Trop. 27 pp389-401 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 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 Hall, N., Et al,1970,Forest Trees of Australia,Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra 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 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 Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. I. Soerianegara and R.H.M.J. Lemmens (Editors,1993,Plant Resources of South-East Asia 5,(PROSEA, 1,Timber trees: Major commercial timbers,Pudoc Scientific Publishers, Wageningen 1993 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 Kingston, R.S.T., Risdon, C.J.E.,1961,Shrinkage and Density of Australian and other South-West Pacific Woods,C.S.I.R.O. Division of Forest Products Technological Paper No.13 Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12 Murira, K.,1984,Natural Durability Tests of Tanzanian Timbers 1955 - 1982,Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Timber Utilisation Research Centre,,Moshi. Petroff, G., Et al,1968,Caracteristiques papetiÇres de quelques essences tropicales de reboisement,Vol. III,C.T.F.T. Publication No.31 Petroff, G.,1965,Etude papetiÇre de Queslques Echantillons d'Eucalyptus congolais,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.103 pp27-38 Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London Sallenave, P.,1964,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Premier Supplement,C.T.F.T. Publ.,no.23 Sallenave, P.,1971,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Deuxieme,Supplement,C.T.F.T. Sao Paulo - Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnologicas,1956,Tabelas de Resultados obtidos para Madeiras Nacionais,Inst. Pesq. Tec. Sao Paulo, Brazil Bol., No.31(2nd Ed.) 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 Simpfendorfer, K.J.,1975,An Introduction to trees for South Eastern Australia,Inkata Press, Melbourne, Australia Skolmen, R.G.,1974,Some woods of Hawaii, properties and uses of 16 commercial species,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Forest,and Range Experiment Station, General Technical Report PSW_8 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 Streets, R.J.,1962,Exotic Forest Trees in the British Commonwealth,Clarendon Press Oxford 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 Tanzania Forest Division,1966,Kiln Drying Schedules for Tanzania Timbers Technical Note no.38,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi The Australian Timber Journal & Building Products, Merchandiser,1969,Timber Durability and Preservation,Supplement to Australian Timber Journal 35(4) Tech. Timb. Guide No.8 Uganda Forest Department,1954,The Mechanical Properties of some Ugandan Timbers,Uganda Forest Department Timber Leaflet,No.1