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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 Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Gonystylus punctatus Trade Name Fijian ramin Family Name Thymelaeaceae Common Names Fijian ramin, Mavota Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Fiji [Polynesia] Common Uses Broom handles, Canoes, Carvings, Flooring, Furniture, Handles: general, Joinery, Light construction, Mathematical instruments, Moldings, Oars, Paneling, Plywood, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Veneer Environmental Profile Vulnerable Questionable Heartwood Color Brown Black Green/grey Yellow to golden-yellow to orange White to cream Pale red to pink Pale brown Sapwood Color Yellow White Same as heartwood Grain Even Figure Interlocked Straight Growth rings (figure) Straight Interlocked Clear growth rings (figure) Texture Very fine Resinous and oily Medium Fine Fine to medium Natural Durability Very durable Resistant to marine borers Resistant to termites Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Perishable Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Non durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Odor Has an odor Has a taste Kiln Schedules Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Ring Shakes Splitting Moderate surface checking Moderate end spitting Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult End-Coating Thick Stock Requires Care Easy Difficult Kiln Drying Rate Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is fluted Tree Size Tree height is 0-10 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Carving Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Gluing Surface Preparation Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Carefully Controlled Conditions Easy to glue Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Nailing Possible if prebored Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Sapwood is permeable Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Routing & Recessing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Sanding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Turning Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to turn Good results Veneering Qualities No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Easy to cut No steaming needed during bolt preparation. Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Staining Finish is generally good Strength Properties Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Max. crushing strength = high Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Max. crushing strength = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9310 14566 psi Density 41 lbs/ft3 Maximum Crushing Strength 5780 8614 psi Shearing Strength 2043 psi Stiffness 1665 1923 1000 psi Weight 40 32 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 654 1024 kg/cm2 Density 657 kg/m3 Maximum Crushing Strength 406 605 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 143 kg/cm2 Stiffness 117 135 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 641 512 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % References Alston, A.S.,1966,Powder Post Beetle Lyctus Species,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva. Fiji timbers and their uses No.6 Bolza, E., Kloot, N.H.,1972,The Mechanical Properties of 56 Fijian Timbers,Australia C.S.I.R.O. Division of Forest Products Technological Paper,No.,62 C.S.I.R.O.,1977,Ramin (Gonystylus spp.,CSIRO Division of Building Research Information Service Sheet No.10-10 Fiji Department of Forestry,1969,A Summary of the Properties of 34 Indigenous Timbers,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva. Fiji timbers and their uses No.38 Fiji Department of Forestry,1972,Guide to the use of local timbers,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva. Fiji timbers and their uses No.55 Fiji Forestry Department,1967,The Properties and Potential Uses of Mavota (Gonystylus punctatus) A,Summary of C.S.I.R.O. Investigations,Fiji Timbers and their Uses No. 16, Department of Forestry, Suva, Fiji Fiji Forestry Department,1970,The Properties and Potential Uses of Qumu (Acacia richii) A Summary of,C.S.I.R.O. Investigations,Fiji Timbers and their Uses No.51,,Department of Forestry, Suva, Fiji Fiji Forestry Department,1981,The Properties and Uses of 43 Indigenous and Exotic Timbers,Fiji Forestry Department, Fiji Timbers and their Uses No.71