a) General description: Straight grained, rather coarse textured, with a prominent growth ring figure and non-resinous. The heartwood shows considerable colour variation when fresh, from a dark chocolate brown to a salmon pink colour, perhaps varigated, maturing down to a reddish-brown.
b) Mechanical properties: The material has low bending and crushing strength, with very low stiffness and resistance to shock loads. Steam bending classification is very poor.
c) Seasoning: Thin stock dries readily with little degrade, but thicker sizes tend to hold moisture at the centre and care is needed to avoid internal honey combing and collapse. This is especially true of UK timber. There is small movement in service.
d) Working properties: The wood works easily with hand and machine tools, with little blunting effect on cutters. Nailing properties are good. It screws well and takes stain and polish satisfactorily. Its acidic properties cause corrosion of metals and black stain in the timber.
e) Durability : The material is durable. Standing trees liable to attack by the Western Cedar borer and seasonal timber liable to attack by common furniture beetle. Resistant to preservative treatment.
f) Uses: Glass house and shed construction, shingles, interior finishing, exterior boarding and cladding, beehive construction, poles, posts and fences.
Back to Quality Lumber |
