Technical Data

Note explanation of ratings can be viewed at the bottom of the page.
 
Blackbutt (WA variety) - also known as Yarri, WA Blackbutt, Swan River Blackbutt
Eucalyptus patens
Green density:1120kg per m3
Air dry density:850kg per m3
Basic density: 690kg per m3
Colour: Heartwood is pale yellow-brown. Sapwood is noticeably paler.
Grain: Interlocked, which can make working with this otherwise easy timber difficult.
Durability Class:2 for decay (15-25 years), 4 for decay plus termites (less than 8 years).
Hardness:Green 5.5, Dry 6.9
 
Jarrah - also known as Swan River Mahogany
Eucalyptus Marginata
Green density:1170kg per m3
Air dry density:820kg per m3
Basic density: 670kg per m3
Colour: Heartwood is dark red, while regrowth is pinkish-red. Sapwood is pale yellow.
Texture: Coarse but even.
Grain: Slightly interlocked.
Durability Class: 2-3 for decay and also 2-3 (about 15 years) for decay plus termites. Termite resistant.
Hardness:Green 5.7, Dry 8.5
 
Karri
Eucalyptus diversicolor
Green density:1200kg per m3
Air dry density:900kg per m3
Basic density: 690kg per m3
Colour: Heartwood is pale pink to reddish brown, regrowth is lighter. Sapwood is a distinguishable white.
Durability Class: 2-3 for decay (about 15 years) and 4 for decay plus termites (less than 8 years); sapwood is susceptable to the borer beetle.
Hardness:Green 6.0, Dry 9.0
 
Marri - also known as Redgum
Corymbia calophylla, formerly Eucalyptus calophylla
Green density:1200kg per m3
Air dry density:850kg per m3
Basic density: 650kg per m3
Colour: Heartwood ranges from pale yellow to light brown to reddish brown. Sapwood is distinguishably paler.
Durability Class: 3-4 for both decay and decay plus termites (about 8 years). Sapwood is susceptable to borer beetle.
Hardness:Green 6.6, Dry 7.1
 
Peppermint
Agonis flexuosa
Green density:990kg per m3
Air dry density:780kg per m3
Colour: heartwood is light brown with darker streaks. Sapwood is similar but paler.
Grain: Subtle.
Durability Class: Figures not available.
Hardness:Figures not available.
 
Sheoak (WA variety)
Allocasuarina fraseriana
Green density:1000kg per m3
Air dry density:730kg per m3
Basic density: 620kg per m3
Colour: Heartwood is dark red to brown. Sapwood is pale yellow.
Texture: Moderately fine and even with prominant radial bands.
Grain: Interlocked.
Durability Class: 2 (15-25 years) for decay, however Sheok was not included in the 1996 CSIRO research which included termites. This timber would not be used below ground in any event. Sapwood is susceptable to borer beetle.
Hardness:Figures not available.
 
Tuart
Eucalyptus gomphocephala
Green density:1250kg per m3
Air dry density:1030kg per m3
Basic density: 840kg per m3
Colour: Pale yellow-brown.
Texture: Fine and even.
Grain: The very interlocked grain makes it difficult to dress smoothly.
Durability Class: 1 for decay (over 25 years), 3 for decay plus termites (8-15 years). Sapwood is susceptable to borer beetle.
Hardness:Green 9.4, Dry 11.0
 
Explanation of ratings

Green density:  The density of wood in the living tree, defined by mass divided by volume.

Air dry density:  The density of wood, defined by mass divided by volume, with a moisture content of 12 percent, which is the average for coastal capital cities around Australia.

Basic density:  The oven-dried density of wood, defined by mass divided by volume.

Heartwood:  The inner layers of wood in growing trees that have ceased to contain living cells. Heartwood is generally darker than sapwood, but the two are not always distinguishable.

Sapwood:  The outer zone of wood in a tree, next to the bark. Sapwood is generally lighter than heartwood.

Durability class:  A standard created by the CSIRO for rating the performance of outer heartwood when placed in the ground and exposed to fungal attack, and fungal plus termite attack. Woods that have no durability rating are usually not placed in the ground. Durability classes are:
1 = Over 25 years.
2 = 15 to 25 years.
3 = 8 to 15 years.
4 = less than 8 years.

Hardness:  The rating is from the Janka hardness test which measures the force required to embed a 11.28 mm (0.444 in.) steel ball to half its diameter into the wood. It is one of the known ways to test the ability and wear. The figure presented is in kN (kilonewtons) and the higher the figure the better.

 
Source for info; Forest Products Commission of Western Australia website (http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au/).
 

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