Heartwood is a golden yellow and has attractive interlocking grain. Although in the sandalwood genus, this species does not have aromatic properties.
Green density is the density of wood in the living tree, defined as green mass divided by green volume, and useful for estimating transport costs. It varies with season and growing conditions.
Air-dry density is the average mass divided by volume at 12 per cent moisture content (this is the average environmental condition in the coastal capital cities around Australia).
Basic density is oven-dry mass divided by green volume. This measure has the advantage that moisture content variations in the tree during the year are avoided.
:Air-dry density is about 875 kg/m3.
Tangential and radial shrinkage are estimated as about 2.0 and 1.5 per cent respectively, because of plumbush's similarity to sandalwood.
Goldfields craftsmen rate plumbush as good for screwholding, stability, sanding and gluing, and excellent for turning, machinability, boring, and finishing.
The CSIRO Durability Classes are based on the performance in ground of outer heartwood when exposed to fungal and termite attack.
Class | Life Years |
---|---|
1 | More than 25 |
2 | 15 to 25 |
3 | 8 to 15 |
4 | Less than 8 |
The ratings are not relevant to above-ground use. In late 1996, CSIRO published revised ratings, which include termite susceptibility. Ratings are now available for about seventy species for decay, and for decay plus termites.
:Green and dry strength groups are (S4) and (SD4). The brackets indicate conservative provisional ratings based on the air-dry density. The more important strength properties based on strength groups are given in the table below.
Minimum values (MPa) for strength groups for green and seasoned timber come from Australian Standard AS2878-1986 'Timber - Classification of strength groups'. In grading structural timber, each species is allocated a ranking for green timber of S1 (strongest) to S7, and for seasoned timber SD1 (strongest) to SD8.
MOR is modulus of rupture or bending strength, MOE is modulus of elasticity or 'stiffness', and MCS is maximum crushing strength or compression strength. Hardness refers to the Janka hardness test and is a measure of resistance to indentation.
Minimum values (Mpa) for green timber
Strength Property | S1 | S2 | S3 | S4 | S5 | S6 | S7 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MOR | 103 | 86 | 73 | 62 | 52 | 43 | 36 |
MOE | 16300 | 14200 | 12400 | 10700 | 9100 | 7900 | 6900 |
MCS | 52 | 43 | 36 | 31 | 26 | 22 | 18 |
Minimum values (Mpa) for green timber
Strength Property | SD1 | SD2 | SD3 | SD4 | SD5 | SD6 | SD7 | SD8 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MOR | 150 | 130 | 110 | 94 | 78 | 65 | 55 | 45 |
MOE | 21500 | 18500 | 16000 | 14000 | 12500 | 10500 | 9100 | 7900 |
MCS | 80 | 70 | 61 | 54 | 47 | 41 | 36 | 30 |
Where test data were available, they are shown in bold print. Most values are from Bootle (1983), Wood in Australia. Types, properties and uses. (McGraw-Hill), or Julius (1906), 'Western Australian timber tests 1906: The physical characteristics of the woods of Western Australia'.
Where no strength data were available, air-dry density was used in accordance with the Australian Standard AS2878-1986 Timber - Classification of strength groups to predict the strength group. Consequently, the strength values quoted are from the above two tables.
:Green and dry strength groups are (S4) and (SD4). The brackets indicate conservative provisional ratings based on the air-dry density. The more important strength properties based on strength groups are given in the table below.
Property | Units | Green | Dry |
---|---|---|---|
Modulus of Rupture | MPa | 62 | 94 |
Modulus of Elasticity | MPa | 10700 | 14000 |
Max Crushing Strength | MPa | 31 | 54 |
Hardness | KN | - | - |
Limited availability because of the scattered nature of the resource.
The timber is excellent for woodturning and general craftwork.