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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 Boring Carving Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster 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 Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Podocarpus totara Trade Name New Zealand yew Family Name Podocarpaceae Common Names New Zealand yew, Totara Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] New Zealand Common Uses Boat building (general), Boat building: framing, Boat building: planking, Bridge construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Flooring, Furniture, Joinery (external): ground contact, Light construction, Musical instruments: piano, Pencil, Piling, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Railroad ties, Shingles, Turnery, Vats, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wharf construction Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Green/grey White Red Reddish brown Dark brown Pale red to pink Brown Sapwood Color Brown Yellow Well defined Different than heartwood Grain Straight Figure Even Mottled (figure) Growth rings (figure) Variable (figure) Weak (figure) Straight Mottled figure Weak figure Variable figure Clear growth rings (figure) Texture Uniform Very fine Even or uniform Fine Fine Fine to medium Luster Dull Natural Durability Durable Resistant to attack from marine borers Moderately durable Non durable Moderately resistant to marine borer attack Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast UK=J US=T10D5S/T8D4S Fr=4 UK=B US=T2d2/T2C1 Fr=2 Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Distortion No resin/gum exudation Ease of Drying Rapidly Reconditioning Treatement Little degrade Easy Moderate Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is slight Blunting effect on sawing green wood is mild Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Easy Carving Fair to Good 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 Finishes well Easy to mortise Moulding Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good finishing results Easy to mould Movement in Service Stable Small Nailing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Holds nails well Easy to nail Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Permeable heartwood Sapwood is permeable Sapwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is resistant Resistance to Splitting Satisfactory Poor Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Routing yields good results Routing is easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing yields good results Easy to screw Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Easy to cut Painting Satisfactory results Poor results Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory results Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 6111 9589 psi Density 32 lbs/ft3 Hardness 319 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 3916 6397 psi Shearing Strength 995 psi Stiffness 1017 1199 1000 psi Weight 31 25 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 429 674 kg/cm2 Density 512 kg/m3 Hardness 144 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 275 449 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 69 kg/cm2 Stiffness 71 84 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 496 400 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % 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 Totara (Podocarpus totara and P.hallii,New Zealand Forest Service Information Series No.6 Forest Products Research Laboratory U.K.,1957,A Handbook of Softwoods,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research,HMSO 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