Fact Sheet Help

You can select up to 3 different timber fact sheets to compare on your screen simultaneously.

Timber density (kg/m3) at 12% moisture content – an average or range.

Australian Standards

ASTM International – standards worldwide.

Timber sawn tangentially to the growth rings so that the ring angle to the wide face is less than 45 degrees; also known as flat sawn.

Oven-dry mass divided by green-soaked volume (kg/m3).

How well the timber can be bent during steam bending processes.

A test performed on matchstick-sized splinters to distinguish between anatomically similar timbers such as brush box and turpentine or jarrah and karri.

Meets the performance requirements for use in bushfire prone areas without the application of fire-retardant chemicals. For example, Callitris glaucophylla cannot be used in bushfire-prone areas without treatment with fire-retardant chemicals; C. intratropica has not been rated; E. pilularis has been rated fire retardant and can be used in bushfire-prone areas without treating.

See also: movement calculator

The energy value of wood for a given moisture content, usually expressed in kJ/gram for oven-dry wood.

Estimated carbon content (kg/m³).

% cellulose content.

See maximum cleavage strength.

The colour of dry heartwood, which can vary within species.

Any general comments about the properties of this species.

If there are no records for this timber, the list will not open.

The maximum across-the-grain stress (of a few minutes duration) that can be applied without causing injury to the timber.

Describes corrosiveness of green timber to aluminium fittings and fasteners.

See maximum crushing strength.

Wood density is influenced by growth rate and the proportion of late wood and heartwood. Density = mass / volume (kg/m3). Known values are provided for:

• Air dry density at 12% moisture content kg/m3  (average or range)
• Density, green kg/m³
• Density, basic kg/m³ (oven dry mass/green soaked volume).

Chemical substances filling the heartwood vessels.

Many scientific names were created from Greek or Latin roots, which describe specific characters of the tree.

Drying (seasoning) is important for timbers used in applications such as flooring, decking and furniture.
Seasoning pre-shrinks the wood before installation and improves strength, stability and durability.

Timber can be air-dried, although industrial kilns maximise finished product quality by controlling temperature, humidity and air-flow conditions. Also see kiln schedule.

These biological and chemical properties include natural durability, susceptibility to damaging pests, chemical make-up and behaviour in flame.

Rating of resistance to fungi that cause decay (rot). There are four classes each of above-ground and below-ground durability. The ratings represent the life-expectancy of timber in service and are applied to sound, untreated heartwood. Highest durability =1; lowest durability =4. All untreated sapwood is regarded as Class 4, irrespective of species. AS 5604-2005 Timber – Natural durability ratings (Standards Australia 2005).

Durability
class

Above-ground life expectancy

Below-ground life expectancy

Class 1 - highest natural durability

> 40 years

> 25 years

Class 2 - high natural durability

15 to 40 years

15 to 25 years

Class 3 - moderate natural durability

7 to 15 years

5 to 15 years

Class 4 - low natural durability

0 to 7 years

0 to 5 years

Seasonal growth produces growth rings in some species. Earlywood is produced early in the growth cycle and is lighter in colour and less dense than latewood.

The moisture content at which timber does not gain or lose moisture from the surrounding atmosphere.

Estimated carbon content (kg/m³)

The taxonomic category linking several genera together.

Approximately 25-30% moisture content, where cell walls are saturated, but cell cavities do not contain water.

The natural pattern of wood surfaces associated with contrasts in colour, grain or texture.

Assessment of the timber’s suitability for staining, waxing, painting or other finishes.

Meets the performance requirements for use in bushfire prone areas without the application of fire-retardant chemicals (when tested against the relevant standards). For example, Callitris glaucophylla cannot be used in bushfire-prone areas without treatment with fire-retardant chemicals; C. intratropica has not been rated; E. pilularis has been rated fire retardant and can be used in bushfire-prone areas without treating.

The direction or arrangement of the wood fibres in sawn wood. Straight grain describes timber where the fibres run parallel to the length of the board.

Density of green (unseasoned) timber (kg/m3).

The ability to resist indentation. It is measured in kN and is often determined by the Janka hardness test. The six hardness categories are: 1, very hard; 2, hard; 3, moderately hard; 4, firm; 5, soft; 6, very soft.

Any known health risks.

Inner layers of wood that no longer contain living cells in the growing tree. Heartwood is often darker than sapwood, although the two are not always clearly differentiated.

A measure of the energy required to break a standard sized specimen. Measured in joules.

Measure of energy required to break timber, indicating its suitability for impact tool handles. A notched specimen is broken at the notch by a falling pendulum, and the energy absorbed is a measure of impact. Measured in joules.

Measure of energy required to break timber, indicating its suitability for impact tool handles.

A test for resistance to indentation, wear and marking. It measures the force required to embed a steel ball (11.18 mm diameter) to the depth of its radius in the wood surface.

Timber species are classified into joint groups according to their mechanical properties. There are six joint groups for unseasoned timber (J1, the strongest to J6, the weakest) and six joint groups for seasoned timber (JD1 to JD6).

Kiln schedules are the recommended drying conditions for each stage of drying. These are for use by kiln operators and published schedules are given for some key commercial timbers. The recommendations are based on: board thickness (mm) and sawn orientation (quarter sawn, back sawn, or mixed), which all affect drying rate and degrade.

The schedules show the wet and dry bulb temperatures to set as moisture content is monitored progressively through the drying process.

Notes about specific treatments and conditions are given.

Data from: Rozsa A and Mills RG (1991) Index of kiln seasoning schedules. Reprinted in: Waterson GC (ed.) Australian Timber Seasoning Manual, 3rd edn, Appendix 2. (1997). Australian Furniture Research and Development Institute, Newnham, Tasmania, pp. 167–176.

See earlywood / latewood

% lignin content

These common names may be peculiar to restricted geographical regions and are often different from the standard trade name.

The sapwood of all softwoods and some hardwoods are immune to attack by the powderpost beetle (Lyctus brunneus).

• S: sapwood confirmed susceptible.
• (s): sapwood susceptibility unknown.
• NS: sapwood non-susceptible.

Sapwood of susceptible hardwoods can be rendered non-susceptible to attack by using an approved preservative treatment. Alternatively, lyctine-susceptible sapwood can be removed during processing.

Resistance to attack by marine borers.

• Class 1: highly resistant
• Class 2: moderate to high resistance
• Class 3: moderate resistance
• Class 4: poor resistance

The ultimate resistance to a force acting across the grain and tending to split the member, indicating the ability to hold nails. Tangential and radial, green or dry condition.

The ultimate strength attained under a load compressing slowly applied parallel to grain, for example in a column (MCS - parallel). In green or dry (12% MC) condition.

The ultimate strength attained when the applied force causes the member to fail by one part sliding upon another.Tangential and radial, green or dry condition.

Moisture content.

Modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), strength (shear, crushing, tensile, cleavage, strength group) compression, toughness, stress, impact, hardness, joint group.

The ratio of the stress applied to a body, to the strain that results in response to it. It is a measure of resistance to deflection or of stiffness, and for most materials remains constant over a range of stress. In green or dry (12% MC) condition.

The measure of the ultimate, short-term load-carrying capacity of a beam when the load is applied gradually. In green or dry (12% MC) condition.

The weight of water contained in wood expressed as a percentage of the weight of the oven dry wood.

Moisture resistance meters are used to check the seasoned condition of timber before machining or manufacturing.

They are usually calibrated to a single species, for example Douglas fir, so a correction factor is needed for other timbers. The correction factor takes account of differences in density, extractives and other parameters between timber species.

Corrected moisture content is given for resistance-type moisture meter readings between 6 and 23% for commercial timber species available in Australia.

The left hand column represents the meter reading (% moisture content) and the right hand column gives corrected values for that timber species.

If there are no records for this timber, the list will not open.

See moisture readings.

A test for resistance to indentation, wear and marking. It measures the force required to embed a cylinder in the wood surface.

This calculates the predicted in-service movement for a specific timber if transported between different environments. This is important when designing furniture for export. The calculator is available for many commercial timbers with known unit shrinkage data. The calculated figure is the predicted change in dimensions (swelling or shrinkage).

To use the movement calculator:

• select the species of interest and scroll down to the movement calculator button.
• nominate the sawn orientation of the boards to be used, or select unknown if not sure.
• enter the board width and thickness and hit calculate (or enter). If unsure, 100 mm wide and 25 mm thick are common dimensions.
• Choose the originating country, state and city.
• Choose the destination country, state and city.
• Click ‘calculate’.

For more calculations, enter the new parameters and calculate again.

Many scientific names were created from Greek or Latin roots, which describe specific characters of the tree.

These common names may be peculiar to restricted geographical regions and are often different from the standard trade name.

The scientific name in italics (Genus and species) and the naming authority. The names are the most recent in 2008.

The name used by the timber industry in Australia and internationally. Sometimes several species share a common standard trade name.

Scent of freshly cut timber.

Known susceptibility to other pests.

Sometimes there is information for more than one sample of a timber from different geographical locations or sources. This links the fact sheets for the alternative samples.

A value expressing relative acidity (low pH values) or alkalinity (high pH values).

Density (air dry, green basic), specific gravity, shrinkage, fibre saturation point, workability, bendability.

These drop down tables give information about different properties and uses of the timbers, where known.

% ash content

Timber sawn radially, so that the growth ring angle to the wide face is greater than 45 degrees, producing a ‘vertical’ and uniform pattern grain. This is done to reduce warping and shrinking. The method produces fewer, narrower boards than back sawing.

Timbers are classified according to their resistance to termites (see termite resistance) or marine borers (see marine borer resistance), or susceptibility to the powderpost beetle, Lyctus, (see lyctine susceptibility).

The outer part of a tree, closest to the bark, often lighter in colour than the heartwood.

See quarter sawn and back sawn.

See drying.

A condition of stress or strain where parallel planes slide relative to each other.

Ability to resist internal slipping of one part upon another along the grain. Values represent the average strength in radial and tangential shear planes.

The contraction of wood fibres caused by drying below the fibre saturation point (usually around 25-27% M.C.). Values are expressed as a percentage of the dimension of the wood when green.

% shrinkage differs between tangential, radial and longitudinal directions. Longitudinal shrinkage is considered negligible in normal wood. The performance of timber in service can be affected significantly by differential rates of shrinkage. Where known, these shrinkage values are provided:

% dimensional change in the tangential plane per 1% change in environmental moisture content.

% dimensional change in the radial plane per 1% change in environmental moisture content.

% green board shrinkage in the tangential or radial plane, on reaching the seasoned condition i.e. 12% moisture content.

% silica content.

Common source(s) of this timber. It is also the source of the timber sample for which the physical and mechanical properties were described in the fact sheet. Factsheets for differently sourced timbers can be compared using the ‘add for comparison’ button. It is NOT an accurate description of the natural distribution of this species.

The scientific name in italics (Genus and species) and the naming authority. The names are the most recent in 2008.

The ratio of the density of wood to the density of water at 4°C; usually based on the green volume and oven dry weight.

Staining compared to other Australian hardwoods.

The name used by the timber industry in Australia and internationally. Sometimes several species share a common standard trade name.

The ability of timber to maintain stress without failure.

Timbers are classified into groups according to the mechanical properties of the wood of that species and AS 2878, Timbers - Classification into Strength Group. There are 7 strength groups for unseasoned timber (S1 the strongest to S7 the weakest) and 8 for seasoned timber (SD 1 the strongest to SD 8 the weakest).

Stress measured at the point before damage to the timber surface (ASTM).

Stress measured immediately after damage (ASTM).

Timbers are classified according to their susceptibility to the powderpost beetle, Lyctus, (see lyctine susceptibility), or resistance to termites (see termite resistance) or marine borers (see marine borer resistance).

Previously used scientific names for this species.

The ultimate strength attained under stretching, applied slowly, parallel to grain, as in the truss bottom chords in a roof-framework. In green or dry (12% MC) condition.

Resistance of heartwood to subterranean termite attack.

• R: heartwood highly resistant
• NR: heartwood has little or no resistance, or resistance has not been confirmed.

A test procedure used in USA.

See shrinkage

Some recorded uses for this timber. Uses have been grouped into categories including construction, musical instruments and non-wood uses. A drop down list appears when there is at least one recorded use in that category.

Government archive records for this timber being used in the food industry. Includes:

baker’s equipment, chopping blocks and trays, skewers, tobacco pipes, toothpicks, cooperage, casks, fish smoking

If there are no records for this industry, the list will not open.

Government archive records for this timber being used in construction, engineering or furniture making. Includes:

bearings, building, flooring, furniture, joinery, ladders, light aircraft, mining, picture frames, plasterers floats, plywood and veneers, poles, railway sleepers, scaffold planks, shingles and shakes, water cooling towers

If there are no records for this industry, the list will not open.

Government archive records for this timber being used for making handles. Includes:

broom handles, brush handles, axe handles, knife handles, walking sticks, whip handles

If there are no records for this industry, the list will not open.

Government archive records for this timber being used to make musical instruments. Includes:

woodwind instruments, percussion instruments, piano timbers, stringed instruments - including bows

If there are no records for this industry, the list will not open.

Government archive records for this timber being used to make sporting goods. Includes:

cricket equipment, croquet mallets, fishing rods, golf shafts and heads, gunstocks, hockey sticks, lacrosse, archery, polo heads and balls, skis, tennis racquets, presses, baseball clubs, billiard cues, bowls, oars, bowling lane timbers

If there are no records for this industry, the list will not open.

Government archive records for this timber being used for fuel and firewood.

If there are no records for this use, the list will not open.

Government archive records for this timber being used for special applications. Includes:

air dispersers, artificial limbs, fancy articles, battery separators, hosiery boards, heat insulation timbers, match making and match boxes, printing trade, rulers, scales, saddle trees, sign boards, military purposes, motion picture industry, pallets (tables and stands for fork lifts), pattern making, peel heads, pencil woods, stamp strips, substitutes for wood, templates, textile industry, timber residues, timber laminations, timber paddles (industrial), toys, turnery

If there are no records for these uses, the list will not open.

Government archive records for this timber being used for non-wood uses. Includes:

charcoal, cork, decorative foliage, dyes, fibre and bark, foam barks, gums, latex and resins, honey production, lignin, medicines, toxins, drugs, mosquito coils, etc, producer gas, pulp, rayon, sawdust, tannin, tree fruits, wood cellulose, wood distillation product, wood flour, wood plastics, woodwool

If there are no records for these uses, the list will not open.

Government archive records for this timber being used for landscaping. Includes:

bee boxes, fencing, landscaping and retaining walls, playground equipment, survey pegs and posts, wheel barrows, wood paving

If there are no records for these uses, the list will not open.

Government archive records for this timber being used for marine applications. Includes:

boat building, lock and canal work, water supply, marine hazards, piles.

If there are no records for these uses, the list will not open.

All timbers are classified as either softwoods (like pines) hardwoods (like eucalypts) or monocotyledons (like coconut and bamboo).

The ease and smoothness achievable with hand or machine tools.