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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 Carving 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 Luster Mortising Moulding Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Myristica castaneaefolia Trade Name Kaudamu Family Name Myristicaceae Common Names Kaudamu Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Fiji [Polynesia] Common Uses Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Flooring, Furniture, Handles: general, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Ladders, Light construction, Moldings, Paneling, Particleboard, Plywood, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Green/grey Red Pale red to pink Pale brown Sapwood Color Brown White White to yellow Different than heartwood Grain Straight Even Straight Texture Medium Coarse Medium Luster High Natural Durability Durable Non-resistant to termites Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Perishable Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Non durable Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Odor Has an odor Kiln Schedules Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Drying Defects Checking Distortion Slight collapse and honeycomb Moderate surface checking Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Reconditioning Treatement Little degrade Moderate Kiln Drying Rate Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Carving Very Good to Excellent 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 Gluing Fair to Good Results Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good finishing results Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Sapwood is resistant Heartwood is resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Good Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Easy to Work Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Poor results Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Veneering Qualities Easy to cut Painting Fair to Good Results Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = low Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 6511 10212 psi Density 33 lbs/ft3 Maximum Crushing Strength 3916 6397 psi Shearing Strength 1221 psi Stiffness 1188 1383 1000 psi Weight 32 25 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 457 717 kg/cm2 Density 528 kg/m3 Maximum Crushing Strength 275 449 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 85 kg/cm2 Stiffness 83 97 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 512 400 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % 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 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,1966,The Properties and Potential Uses of Kaudamu (Myristica species) A Summary,of C.S.I.R.O. Investigations,Fiji Timbers and their Uses No. 11, Department of Forestry, Suva, Fiji. Fiji Forestry Department,1969,Timbers for Flooring A Note on Current & Potential Species,Fiji Timbers and their Uses No.36, 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 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