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. Boring Carving Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Myristica chartacea Trade Name Kaudamu Family Name Myristicaceae Common Names Darah darah, Duguan, Kaudamu, Kumpang, Mutwinda, Penarahan, Tambolau Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Fiji [Polynesia], Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines Common Uses Balusters, Bedroom suites, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Core Stock, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory flooring, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles: general, Hardboards, Hatracks, Interior construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Ladders, Light construction, Living-room suites, Moldings, Office furniture, Packing cases, Paneling, Particleboard, Plywood, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer Environmental Profile Questionable Extinct Endangered Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Species in the Myristica genus are reported to occur in the Indo-Malayan region, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Western Pacific Islands. Heartwood Color Yellow Red Pink Orange Pale red to pink Pale brown Light brown Sapwood Color Yellow Pink White to yellow Different than heartwood Darkens with exposure Cream/Pale brown Grain Straight Even Straight Wood has a plain appearance without features Texture Very fine Medium Even textured Luster High Natural Durability Durable 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 Highly susceptible to attack by subterr. and dry wood termites Highly susceptible to attack by pinhole borers Highly susceptible to attack by marine borers Logs should be removed quickly from the forest after felling to prevent degrade from blue- and yellow-stain. Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules T10 - D4S (4/4) US Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Drying Defects Checking Distortion Slight collapse and honeycomb Moderate surface checking Surface checking and slight collapse are common Ease of Drying Thick Stock Requires Care Reconditioning Treatement Fairly Easy Requires special attention Moderate Requires care to minimize degrade Mild kiln schedules recommended to minimize drying defects Might require reconditioning treatment The timber requires carefully controlled drying conditions to prevent degrade. Mild kiln schedules are recommended, and a short reconditioning treatment may be necessary to remove collapse. Kiln Drying Rate Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Size Boles are described as often straight and cylindrical. Product Sources Kaudamu is the trade name of timber produced by four Myristica species in Fiji. The timbers are very similar and are often mixed and marketed together under the same trade name. Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Both green and seasoned material bore easily Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good results Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Yields smooth clean surfaces Fairly easy to saw Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to mortise The material is reported to mortise easily with ordinary tools to produce clean surfaces Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very good moulding properties Good finishing results Nailing Nails hold poorly Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Yields clean surfaces Resistance to Impregnation Sapwood is resistant Moderately permeable to preservative treatment Heartwood is resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Good Response to Hand Tools Responds Poorly Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Responds well to hand tools Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good in both routing and recessing. Sanding Good sanding properties Turning Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Yields clean surfaces Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Easy to cut Polishing Good 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 Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Very dense Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Max. crushing strength = low Heavy Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = medium The bending strength of air-dried wood of the species is similar to that of Teak, which is considered to be strong. Teak, White oak, and Hard maple have high crushing strength. It is moderately hard and resistant to wearing and marring Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 6929 11965 psi Crushing Strength 529 1068 psi Density 37 lbs/ft3 Hardness 864 lbs Impact Strength 23 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3534 6740 psi Shearing Strength 1395 psi Static Bending 3783 7771 psi Stiffness 1270 1698 1000 psi Toughness 81 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.43 0.48 Weight 36 29 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Volumetric Shrinkage 12 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 487 841 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 37 75 kg/cm2 Density 592 kg/m3 Hardness 391 kg Impact Strength 58 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 248 473 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 98 kg/cm2 Static Bending 265 546 kg/cm2 Stiffness 89 119 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 93 cm-kg Specific Gravity 0.43 0.48 Weight 576 464 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % 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 Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. 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