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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 Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing References Regions of Distribution Resin Content Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Silica Content Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Larix leptolepis Trade Name Japanese larch Family Name Pinaceae Common Names Japanese larch, Kara-matsu, Karamatsu, Red larch Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia, Western Europe Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Japan, United Kingdom Common Uses Beams, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: planking, Bridge beams, Bridge construction, Bridge joists, Building construction, Cabin construction, Canoes, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Construction, Decks, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Factory construction, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joists, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Lock gates, Mine timbers, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Piling, Poles, Porch columns, Posts, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rough construction Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Indigenous to Japan, with a natural growth range confined to a small area in the center of Honshu Island between latitudes 35 degrees and 37 degrees and from longitudes 137 degrees to 140 degrees east. It grows at elevations from 4000 feet (1220 m) to 8000 feet (1220 m) with an extreme limit of 9200 feet (2806 m) on mount Fujiyama. The species has also been introduced into Europe, including the United Kingdom. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Black Orange Reddish brown Dark brown Sapwood Color Well defined White to yellow Different than heartwood Grain Figure Growth rings (figure) Straight Even Distinct (figure) Clear growth rings (figure) Straight Distinct figure Texture Fine Fine to medium Medium coarse to coarse Natural Durability Moderately durable Resistant to marine borers Resistant to termites Moderately durable Durable Susceptible to attack from the pinhole borer beetle Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Heartwood has moderate natural resistance to decay Odor Distinctive resinous odor Silica Content High Resin Content Unsuitable for use as food containers or in the manufacture of woodwool and fiber boards because of high resin content Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Checking Distortion Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Slight end splitting Warping can be expected Expect splits Checks Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Moderately Difficult to Difficult Slow kiln drying is recommended since the wood is liable to check, split, and warp Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 40-50 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect High to severe Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Responds fairly well to boring Carving Easy to carve Cutting Resistance The soft earlywood zones are liable to tear and crumble if cutting edges are not kept very sharp Mortising Good mortising properties Moulding Good moulding properties Movement in Service Small Retains shape after manufacture Dimensionally stable after seasoning Nailing Wood is liable to split Pre-boring recommended Planing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Very sharp cutting edges are required for good results since the soft earlywood zones are liable to tear and crumble Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is resistant Sapwood is permeable Sapwood is moderately resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Worked fairly easily with hand tools Hard knots may cause problems Routing & Recessing Good routing properties Turning Responds well to ordinary tools in mortising Veneering Qualities No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Moderately easy to veneer Steam Bending Poor Moderate Painting Satisfactory results Good results The wood can be painted without difficulty. Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Varnishing Satisfactory Takes varnish well Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = low Work to Maximum Load = low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Bending strength (MOR) = medium Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = medium Toughness (total work) = medium Toughness (total work) = low Surfaces may dent easily Soft Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Medium weight and density Max. crushing strength = low Hardness (side grain) = soft Compression strength (parallel to grain) = medium Bending strength in the air-dry condition is fairly high. The properties of seasoned wood is reported to compare favorably with those of European larch (Larix europaea ). Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7048 11608 psi Density 31 lbs/ft3 Hardness 602 lbs Impact Strength 28 30 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3341 6005 psi Shearing Strength 1462 psi Stiffness 1067 1270 1000 psi Toughness 208 inch-lbs Work to Maximum Load 9 12 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.49 Weight 32 31 lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 495 816 kg/cm2 Density 496 kg/m3 Hardness 273 kg Impact Strength 71 76 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 234 422 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 102 kg/cm2 Stiffness 75 89 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 239 cm-kg Work to Maximum Load 0.63 0.84 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.49 References Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 6 Europe,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No.5 Philippines and Japan,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London Dallimore, W. and Jackson, A. Bruce,1966,A Handbook of Coniferae and Ginkgoaceae Fourth Ed. Revised by S.G.,Harrison,Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd. London Forest Products Research Laboratory U.K.,1957,A Handbook of Softwoods,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research,HMSO Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1967,The Steam Bending Properties of various timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Leaflet,No.45 Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1969,The Movement of Timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Technical Note,No.38 I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12 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. MacDonald, J., R.F. Wood, M.V. Edwards and J.R. Aldhous, Editors. 1957. Exotic Forest Trees in Great Britain. Forestry Commission Bulletin No. 30. Paper Prepared for the Seventh British Commonwealth Forestry Conference, Australia and New Zealand. Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. Redding, L.W.,1971,Resistance of Timbers to Impregnation with Creosote,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Bulletin No.54 pp.43 T.R.A.D.A.,1942,Home-grown timber trees - their characteristics, cultivation and Uses,TRADA Thomas, A.V.,1964,Timbers Used in the Boat Building Industry A Survey,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research,Laboratory