Timber species characteristics
Over 16 hardwood native tree species are grown for timber in the Super Forest Plantations. This table outlines the timber characteristics of these species.
Super Forest Plantation’s Species – TIMBER CHARACTERISTICS |
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COLOUR | DENSITY | DURABILTY | STRENGTH GROUP | SHRINKAGE | LYCTID BORER | |||
No. | SPECIES | Heartwood (H) | Green (GD) | CLASS | Green (S) | Radial (R) | SUSCEPTBILITY | |
Sapwood (S) | Air Dry (ADD) | Seasoned (SD) | Tangential (T) | Yes/No | ||||
1 | E. acmenoides | H: Yellow-Brown | GD: 1200 kg/m3 | 1 | S2 | R: 3.5% | NO | |
White Mahogany | S: Noticably Paler | ADD: 1000 kg/m3 | Very Durable | SD3 | T: 6.0% | |||
Other Properties | Slow to dry, little degrade or collapse, grain usually interlocked, narrow sapwood (<20mm). Heavy engineering construction, poles, sleepers, shipbuilding, fence posts |
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2 | E. cloeziana | H: Yellow-Brown | GD: ? kg/m3 | 2 | S2 | R: 3.5% | NO | |
Gympie Messmate | S: Slightly Paler | ADD: 1000 kg/m3 | Durable | SD3 | T: 6.0% | |||
Other Properties | Easy to dry, Negligible collapse, grain slightly interlocked. General construction, poles, sleepers, bridges, etc. |
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3 | E. grandis | H: Pink to Pale Red-Brown |
GD: 950 kg/m3 | 3 | S3 | R: 4.0% | NO | |
Flooded Gum | S: Slightly Paler | ADD: 685 kg/m3 | Moderately Durable | SD4 | T: 7.0% | Resistant | ||
Other Properties | Easy to dry & work, Inclined to surface check, grain straight, prone to splitting, prone to cossid moth. Panelling, joinery, furniture, general construction. Density increases with age, less mature wood only suitable for internal uses. |
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4 | E. microcorys | H: Yellow-Brown | GD: 1230 kg/m3 | 1 | S2 | R: 4.0% | YES | |
Tallow wood | S: Noticably Paler | ADD: 990 kg/m3 | Very Durable | SD2 | T: 6.0% | |||
Other Properties | Slow to dry, Negligible collapse, grain often interlocked, complete absence of gum veins, pin hole borer marks common. Heavy engineering structures, poles, sleepers, bridges, wharves, flooring, cladding, sills, piles, crossarms, fence posts. Greasy feel to wood, hard to glue, good resistance to surface checking when exposed to weather. |
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5 | E. pilularis | H: Pale Brown | GD: 1100 kg/m3 | 2 | S2 | R: 4.0% | NO | |
Blackbutt | S: Distinctively Paler |
ADD: 900 kg/m3 | Durable | SD2 | T: 7.0% | |||
Other Properties | Difficult to dry, prone to surface check, grain straight, gum veins common, reconditioning not advisable. Poles, sleepers, flooring, building framework, structural plywood. Regrowth subject to more bow & spring & central core has considerable collapse than mature stems. |
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6 | E. resinifera | H: Dark Red | GD: 1150 kg/m3 | 2 | S2 | R: 4.0% | YES | |
Red Mahogany | S: Distinctively Paler |
ADD: 950 kg/m3 | Durable | SD3 | T: 6.0% | |||
Other Properties | Dries with little degrade if well stacked, negligible collapse, good for painting as little surface checking. Flooring, cladding, panelling, general construction, sleepers, poles. Grain slightly interlocked, can be ‘ebonised to rich black by treatment with ferric chloride, pin hole borer common. |
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7 | E. saligna | H: Pink to Pale Red-Brown |
GD: 1170 kg/m3 | 3 | S3 | R: 5.0% | YES | |
Sydney Blue Gum | S: Slightly Paler | ADD: 850 kg/m3 | Moderately Durable | SD3 | T: 9.0% | |||
Other Properties | Easy to dry, Surface checking on tangential surfaces, Little collapse, Heart-centre splits severely no good for girders. General construction, cladding, flooring, panelling, boat building, potential for heavy furniture & plywood. Relatively easy to work. |
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8 | E. siderophloia | H: Pale Brown to Dark Brown to Dark Red |
GD: 1210 kg/m3 | 1 | S1 | R: 4.5% | NO | |
Grey Ironbark | S: Slightly Paler | ADD: 1120 kg/m3 | Very Durable | SD1 | T: 7.5% | |||
Other Properties | Slow to dry, Needs careful handling to avoid surface checking. Heavy engineering structures, poles, sleepers, bridges, wharves, flooring, decking, cladding, sills, piles, crossarms, fence posts. Hard to work due to density. |
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9 | E. moluccana | H: Pale Yellow Brown | GD: 1170 kg/m3 | 1 | S2 | R: 3.5% | NO | |
Grey Box | S: Distinctively Paler |
ADD: 1120 kg/m3 | Very Durable | SD2 | T: 7.5% | |||
Other Properties | Slow to dry, Not prone to surface checking. Heavy engineering structures, poles, sleepers, bridges, wharves, piles, crossarms, fence posts, excellent fuel wood. Difficult to work due to density. |
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10 | E. propinqua | H: Red | GD: 1240 kg/m3 | 1 | S1 | R: 7.0% | NO | |
Grey Gum | S: Distinctively Paler |
ADD: 1080 kg/m3 | Very Durable | SD2 | T: 4.5% | |||
Other Properties | Slow to dry, Little degrade in drying, Prone to grub holes. Heavy engineering structures, poles, sleepers, fence posts.Difficult to work due to density. |
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11 | E. tereticornis | H: Red | GD: 1200 kg/m3 | 2 | S3 | R: 5.0% | NO | |
Forest Red Gum | S: Distinctively Paler |
ADD: 1050 kg/m3 | Durable | SD3 | T: 8.0% | |||
Other Properties | Easy to dry, Little degrade in drying, Prone to grub holes. Heavy engineering structures, machinery bearings, poles, sleepers, fence posts. Can be difficult to dress. |
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12 | L. confertus | H: Pinkish Grey to Red Brown |
GD: 1160 kg/m3 | 3 | S3 | R: 5.0% | NO | |
Brush Box | S: Distinctively Paler |
ADD: 900 kg/m3 | Moderately Durable | SD3 | T: 10.0% | |||
Other Properties | Difficult to dry, Can distort severely. Flooring, cladding, panelling, mallets, pulley blocks, bridge decking in dry areas. Not easy to work due to density, interlocked grain & presence of silica,very resistant to wear. |
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13 | S. glomulifera | H: Reddish Brown | GD: 1130 kg/m3 | 1 | S3 | R: 6.0% | NO | |
Turpentine | S: Distinctively Paler |
ADD: 930 kg/m3 | Very Durable | SD3 | T: 12.0% | |||
Other Properties | Slow to dry, Some checking & collapse. Marine piling (bark on), poles, sleepers, shipbuilding, wharve & bridge decking, flooring, panelling, general construction. High silica blunts blades, Silica & nature of extractives make it resistant to marine organisms. |
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14 | C. Citriodora sub. variegata |
H: Pale Brown to Dark Brown |
GD: 1150 kg/m3 | 2 | S2 | R: 4.5% | YES | |
Spotted Gum | S: Distinctively Paler |
ADD: 950 kg/m3 | Durable | SD2 | T: 6.0% | |||
Other Properties | Care in drying to reduce checking. Heavy engineering structures, piles, poles, flooring, plywood, agricultural machinery, shipbuilding, high impact handles. Easy to work. |
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15 | C. gummifera | H: Dark Red | GD: 1150 kg/m3 | 1 | S3 | R: 3.0% | YES | |
Red Bloodwood | S: Distinctively Paler |
ADD: 900 kg/m3 | Very Durable | SD3 | T: 4.0% | |||
Other Properties | Easy to dry, does not move around much, concentric gum veins can open up. Heavy engineering structures, piles, poles, fence posts, decorative panelling. Relatively easy to work, very prone to concentric gum veins. |
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16 | C. Intemedia | H: Dark Pink | GD: 1150 kg/m3 | 1 | S3 | R: 3.0% | YES | |
Pink Bloodwood | S: Distinctively Paler |
ADD: 900 kg/m3 | Very Durable | SD3 | T: 4.0% | |||
Other Properties | Easy to dry, does not move around much, concentric gum veins can open up. Heavy engineering structures, piles, poles, fence posts, decorative panelling. Relatively easy to work, very prone to concentric gum veins. |
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Reference – Bootle, K.R., 2001, ‘Wood In Australia – Types, properties & uses’, McGraw-Hill, Australia. |