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Blunting Effect Boring Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Nyssa aquatica Trade Name Water tupelo Family Name Cornaceae Common Names Bay poplar, Black gum, Bowl gum, Cotton gum, Gum, Gum cottonwood, Hazel pine, Hickory poplar, Olivetree, Pawpaw gum, Sourgum, Swamp black gum, Swamp poplar, Swamp tupelo, Swamp-gum, Tupelo, Tupelo gum, Water gum, Water tupelo Regions of Distribution North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] United States Common Uses Baskets, Beehives, Boat building: decking, Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Cooperages, Crossties, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Factory flooring, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Food containers, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles: general, Hatracks, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Moldings, Office furniture, Pallets, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shade rollers, Stools, Sub-flooring, Tables , Toys, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Wardrobes Environmental Profile Widespread Globally secure Data source is Nature Conservancy Abundant May be rare at the periphery of its range Distribution Overview This species occurs in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Kentucky, Illinois, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. It prefers swamps and flood plains of streams. Because of its proximity, it is usually submerged under water for a few months during the winter and spring seasons. The species is often found in pure stands. Heartwood Color Yellow Orange Brown Black Red Pale brown Greenish to greyish Brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange White to cream Dark brown Sapwood Color White Yellow White to yellow Different than heartwood Paler than heartwood Whitish Grey Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Figure Interlocked Rippled (figure) Stripe (figure) Other (figure) Distinct (figure) Irregular Growth rings (figure) Interlocked Rippled figure Striped figure Other figure Irregular Distinct figure Clear growth rings (figure) The uniform grain is typically irregular and interlocked, producing a distinct ribbon figure on quarter-sawn surfaces. Texture Medium Fine Natural Durability Perishable Resistant to termites Non-durable Non-resistant to termites Susceptible to insect attack Non durable Heartwood has very low resistance to decay The heartwood has very little natural resistance to decay, and should not be used under conditions that promote decay without adequate and proper protection. Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 T6 - H2 (4/4) US Drying Defects Distortion Moderate twist/warp Wetwood may cause honeycomb, collapse and waterpockets Wet wood causes most defects. Water pockets Severe twisting/warping Honeycombing possible End-checks Collapse Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Slowly Moderate Easy Difficult Stack timber carefully to minimize degrade Little degrade if dried properly Dries at a moderate rate with little degrade. Since the wood has a natural tendency to twist, it is recommended to weight loads down during kiln drying to minimize or prevent distortion Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries at a moderate speed Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm The tree is described as large and aquatic, with a swollen base Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Medium blunting effect on tools Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Satisfactory (60+ pieces out of 100 will yield good to excellent results) Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Medium cutting resistance Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very poor gluing properties Moderate gluing properties Easy to glue Difficult to glue Mortising Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Finishes well Interlocked grain effects mortising Material with interlocked grain is very difficult to mortise. (Number of pieces out of 100 yielding fair to excellent results in mortising = 33). Moulding Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good finishing results Difficult moulding qualities The timber is rather difficult to mould. (Percent of pieces with good to excellent moulding results = 52). Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Not stable/prone to move Nailing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Holds satisfactorily Pre-boring recommended Number of pieces free from complete splits in nailing = 64). Planing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Special attention required Interlocked grain makes wood fairly difficult to plane Easy to plane Ease of planing is moderate A cutting angle of 20 degrees is recommended. (Percent of planed pieces without any machining defects = 55) Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is permeable Timber responds readily to preservative treatment Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Difficult to machine The timber has poor steam bending qualities. (Number of unbroken pieces out of one hundred = 46). Sanding Fair to Good Results Poor sanding properties Percent of sanded pieces with good to excellent results = 34 Screwing Possible if prebored Number of screwed pieces free from complete splits = 63 Turning Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Easy to turn Number of pieces out of one hundred yielding fair to excellent results in turning = 79 Veneering Qualities Easy to cut There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling Steam Bending Poor Painting Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good results Polishing Satisfactory results Staining Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Finish is generally good Finish is generally satisfactory Varnishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Work to Maximum Load = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = soft Bending strength (MOR) = low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Resists denting and marring Max. crushing strength = low Hardness = medium Hardness (side grain) = very soft Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Compression strength (parallel to grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 6768 9692 psi Crushing Strength 470 853 psi Density 35 lbs/ft3 Hardness 861 lbs Impact Strength 29 23 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3456 5907 psi Shearing Strength 1591 psi Stiffness 1044 1241 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 6 7 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.42 0.46 Weight 34 27 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 12 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 475 681 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 33 59 kg/cm2 Density 560 kg/m3 Hardness 390 kg Impact Strength 73 58 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 242 415 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 111 kg/cm2 Stiffness 73 87 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.42 0.49 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.42 0.46 Weight 544 432 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % References Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois and E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods: Temperate and Tropical. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Madison, Wisconsin. Brown, H.P. and Panshin, A.J.,1940,Commercial Timbers of the United States Their structure, identification,,properties and uses,McGraw-Hill, London Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO HMSO, 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. 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 Little, E.L. 1980. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Eastern Region. Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York. Markwardt, L.J., Wilson, T.R.C.,1935,Strength and related properties of woods grown in the United States,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture Technical Bulletin,No.479 Panshin, A.J. and C. deZeeuw. 1980. Textbook of Wood Technology, 4th Edition. McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York. Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press Saucier, J.R.,1982,American Woods - Tupelo,USDA, Forest Service American Woods FS-269 T.D.A.,1942,Timber Leaflet No.62 Tupelo (Nyssa aquatica,TRADA Timber Leaflet Timber Development Association Ltd.,1955,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Timber Development Association Ltd. Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition U.S.D.A. Forest Service,1974,Wood Handbook,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Handbook,72 USDA. 1987. Wood Handbook:Wood as an Engineering Material. Agriculture Handbook No. 72. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Madison, Wisconsin. USDA. 1988. Dry Kiln Operators Manual, Preliminary Copy. Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.