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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

Wood Image 1

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
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength651110212psi
Density33lbs/ft3
Maximum Crushing Strength39166397psi
Shearing Strength1221psi
Stiffness118813831000 psi
Weight3225lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage5%
Tangential Shrinkage9%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength457717kg/cm2
Density528kg/m3
Maximum Crushing Strength275449kg/cm2
Shearing Strength85kg/cm2
Stiffness83971000 kg/cm2
Weight512400kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage5%

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









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