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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. Blunting Effect Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Podocarpus spicata Trade Name Black pine Family Name Podocarpaceae Synonyms Podocarpus spicatus Common Names Black pine, Mai, Matai, New Zealand black pine Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] New Zealand Common Uses Bridge construction, Broom handles, Cabinetmaking, Cooperages, Decks, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Fuelwood, Furniture, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Light construction, Plywood, Posts, Railroad ties, Turnery Heartwood Color White Yellow Orange Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Brown Pale brown Reddish brown Sapwood Color White to yellow Well defined Paler than heartwood Grain Straight Figure Even Growth rings (figure) Other (figure) Weak (figure) Straight Weak figure Other figure Clear growth rings (figure) Texture Coarse Medium Fine Natural Durability Perishable Susceptible to insect attack Non-durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Moderately durable Non durable Durable Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast UK=F US=T6D4/T3D3 Fr=6 UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Splitting Distortion Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Easy Kiln Drying Rate Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Size Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is slight Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Moderate gluing properties Mortising Finishes well Easy to mortise Moulding Good finishing results Easy to mould Movement in Service Stable Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Possible if prebored Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Sapwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is moderately resistant Resistance to Splitting Satisfactory Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Screwing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Turning Good results Easy to turn Steam Bending Good Moderate Painting Good results Satisfactory results Polishing Good results Staining Finish is generally good Varnishing Satisfactory Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Hardness (side grain) = soft Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Bending strength (MOR) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = low Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7711 12078 psi Density 39 lbs/ft3 Hardness 995 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 3916 6397 psi Shearing Strength 1668 psi Stiffness 1017 1199 1000 psi Weight 38 30 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 4 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 542 849 kg/cm2 Density 624 kg/m3 Hardness 451 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 275 449 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 117 kg/cm2 Stiffness 71 84 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 608 480 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % References Bier, H.,1983,The strength properties of small clear specimens of New Zealand-grown,timber,New Zealand Forest Service Forest Research Institute, FRI Bulletin No.41 Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 8 Australasia,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London Cockayne, L. and Phillips Turner, E.,1958,The trees of New Zealand,New Zealand Forest Service Information Series No.12 Dallimore, W. and Jackson, A. Bruce,1966,A Handbook of Coniferae and Ginkgoaceae Fourth Ed. Revised by S.G.,Harrison,Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd. London Entrican, A.R.,1949,The properties and uses of Matai (Podocarpus spicatus,New Zealand Forest Service Information Series No.4 Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1945,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London Smith, S.W. and Entrican, A.R.,1957,Forestry in New Zealand,New Zealand Forest Service Information Series No.1 Stone, H.,1924,The Timbers of Commerce and their Identification,William Rider & Sons Ltd. London The Malayan Forester,1964,Timber tests - Tualang (Koompassia excelsa,Malayan Forester 27(3) pp267-271