Search for

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 Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Luster Mortising Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Aleurites moluccana Trade Name Candlenut Family Name Euphorbiaceae Common Names Acrot, Akrod, Anoi, Arbol de Indias, Avellano, Bancolier, Bancoulier, Bankulnussbaum, Belgaum walnut, Berau, Boewah kareh, Buah keras, Camiri nut, Candle nut, Candlenut, Candlenut siris, Candlenut tree, Derekan, Gambiri, Goum ne wet, Indian walnut, Jabilla extranjera, Jaiphal, Kaleli, Kamere, Kamieh, Kamiri, Kawiloe, Kembiri, Kemeri, Kemili, Kemiling, Keminting, Kemiri, Kemwiri, Kereh, Kermiri, Komere, Kukui, Kumiri, Lekong, Lichtnussbaum, Lumbang, Madang lajo, Mi, Miri, Moentjang, Muncang, Nena, Nogal, Nogal de la India, Nogal prieto, Nogueira, Nogueira de Bancul, Nogueira de Iguape, Nox da India, Noyer des Indes, Nyenga, Palo de nuez, Peridjah, Pidekan, Ragua, Rata-kekuna, Singapore nut, Tel-kekuna, Tenu, Tingkih, Wild date Regions of Distribution Africa, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Australia, Brazil, Hawaii [US], India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, New Caledonia Island [France], Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Vanuatu Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Chemical derivatives, Construction, Decorative veneer, Drawing boards, Exterior uses, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Light construction, Matches, Millwork, Moldings, Packing cases, Particleboard, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Shingles, Toothpicks, Toys, Veneer, Wooden shoes Environmental Profile Vulnerable Questionable Vulnerable in many parts of its natural habitat May soon become Endangered if over-exploitation and habitat destruction persists Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Inadequate information for Indonesia and Sabah Distribution Overview Native to Malaysia, Polynesia, Malay Peninsula, Philippines and South Seas Islands; now widely distributed in tropics. Naturalized or cultivated in Malagasy, Sri Lanka, southern India, Bangladesh, Brazil, West Indies, and Gulf Coast of United States.Candlenut trees thrive in moist tropical regions, up to 1,200 m altitude. Ranging from Subtropical Dry to Wet through Tropical Very Dry to Wet Forest Life Zones, Aleurites moluccana is reported to tolerate annual precipitation of 6.4 to 42.9 dm Heartwood Color White Yellow Red Brown Orange White to cream Pale brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Whitish Sapwood Color White Yellow Red Color not distinct from heartwood White to yellow Grain Straight Even Figure Weak (figure) Generally straight, but not always Weak figure Texture Fine Medium Coarse Fine Coarse Medium Fine to medium Fair to medium coarse Luster Medium Lustrous Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-durable Perishable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Susceptible to wood staining fungal attack susceptible to sap stain Perishable Odor No specific smell or taste Toxicity Some toxic effects Sawdust can cause irritation in some individuals Respiratory effects Drying Defects Distortion Slight twist/warp Ease of Drying Variable Slowly Fairly Easy Thick Stock Requires Care Requires special attention Little degrade Variable results. Requires slow and careful seasoning to prevent degrade. Easy Dries well under good controlled conditions Controlled drying conditions will prevent rapid drying and yield best results. Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Tree Size Bole length is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 20-30 m Blunting Effect Little Moderate There is some significant blunting effect on cutting tools Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fairly difficult to very difficult Fair to good results Poor to very poor results Moderately easy Easy Difficult Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Low resistance to sawing Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cutting edges are dulled rapidly Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moderate gluing properties Mortising Very Good to Excellent Results Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Finishes well Moulding Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Nailing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Nails hold poorly Easy to nail Planing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sharp surfaces are required Planes well, to a good finish Planes to a satisfactory finish Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Permeable heartwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is permeable Heartwood is moderately resistant Sapwood is treatable Sapwood is permeable Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Very sharp cutting edges are required to produce a smooth surface Responds well to hand tools Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory sanding results Moderate sanding qualities Difficult to sand Turning Very Good to Excellent Results Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Good results Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Suitable for slicing There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Good gluing qualities Staining Staining (Characteristic) = coloured water-soluble extract Strength Properties Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength (stiffness) = very low Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Density (dry weight) = 15-22 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = large Max. crushing strength = low Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 5316 8228 psi Density 26 lbs/ft3 Maximum Crushing Strength 2146 4097 psi Shearing Strength 1463 psi Stiffness 1091 1271 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.18 0.14 Weight 24 20 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 373 578 kg/cm2 Density 416 kg/m3 Maximum Crushing Strength 150 288 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 102 kg/cm2 Stiffness 76 89 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.18 0.14 Weight 384 320 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % References Boas, I.H.,1947,The Commercial Timbers of Australia - Their Properties and Uses,Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Melbourne Bolza, E.,1975,Properties and Uses of 175 Timber Species from Papua New Guinea and West,Irian,C.S.I.R.O. Div. Building Research Report,no.34 Burgess, P.F.,1966,Timbers of Sabah,Sabah Forest Record, no.6 Cause, M.L.; Rudder, E.J. and Kynaston, W.T.,1989,Queensland Timbers Their Nomenclature, Density, and Lyctid Susceptability,Queensland Department of Forestry, Technical Pamplet No.2 Cause, M.L., Et al,1974,The Nomenclature, Density and Lyctus - Susceptibility of Queensland,Timbers,Queensland Forestry Department Pamphlet 13 E.H. Walker,1954,Important Trees of the Ryukyu Islands,United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands Special Bulletin,No. 3 Eddowes, P.J. 1977. Commercial Timbers of Papua New Guinea - Their Properties and Uses. Forest Products Research Center, Office of Forests, Department of Primary Industry, Papua New Guinea. Eddowes, P.J.,1977,Commercial Timbers of Papua New Guinea: Their Properties and Uses,Hebano Press, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea Kartasujana, I., Martawijaya, A.,1973,Commercial Woods of Indonesia,Forest Products Research Institute, Department Pertanian, Bogor Indonesia,Report No.3 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 Kraemer, J.H.,1951,Trees of the Western Pacific Region,West Lafayette, Indiana U.S.A. Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press Reyes, L.J. 1938. Philippine Woods. Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Technical Bulletin 7, Commonwealth of the Philippines, Bureau of Printing, Manila. Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T Sarlin, P.,1954,Bois et forets de la Nourelle Caledoiue,C.T.F.T. Publication 6 Schneider, E.E. 1916. Commercial Woods of the Philippines: Their Preparation and Uses. Bulletin No. 14. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Forestry, Manila, Philippines. Simpson, W.T. and J.A. Sagoe. 1991. Relative Drying Times of 650 Tropical Woods : Estimation by Green Moisture Content, Specific Gravity, and Green Weight Density. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-71, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. 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 Tamolang, F.N., Martawijaya, A., Kartasujana, I., Kadir, K., Parwira, S.,1992,Indonesian Wood Atlas Volume II,Department of Forestry, Agency for Forestry Research and Development,,Bogor-Indonesia The Australian Timber Journal & Building Products, Merchandiser,1969,Timber Durability and Preservation,Supplement to Australian Timber Journal 35(4) Tech. Timb. Guide No.8 WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.