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Blunting Effect
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
Family Name
Gluing
Grain
Heartwood Color
Kiln Drying Rate
Kiln Schedules
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Painting
Planing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Staining
Strength Properties
Synonyms
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Araucaria araucana

Trade Name
Araucaria

Family Name
Araucariaceae

Synonyms
Araucaria imbricata


Wood Image 1

Common Names
Araucaria, Chile pine, Chilean pine, Monkey puzzle tree, Pehuen, Pilon, Pino araucaria

Regions of Distribution
Latin America

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Argentina, Chile

Common Uses
Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Flooring, Food containers, Fuelwood, Furniture, Joinery, Light construction, Matches, Particleboard, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Veneer

Heartwood Color
Yellow
Orange
Brown
Green/grey
Red
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Pale brown
Greenish to greyish


Sapwood Color
Red
Yellow
Same as heartwood


Grain
Straight
Even
Figure
Stripe (figure)

Straight
Striped figure


Texture
Fine
Medium
Fine
Medium


Natural Durability
Non-durable
Perishable
Susceptible to insect attack
Resistant to powder post beetles
Non durable
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles


Kiln Schedules
Drying (speed) is fast
Dry at a slow speed
UK=J US=T10D5S/T8D4S Fr=4


Drying Defects
Splitting
Checking
Slight surface checking
Slight end splitting


Ease of Drying
Moderately Difficult to Difficult
Fairly Easy
Rapidly
Slowly
Moderate
Difficult


Kiln Drying Rate
Naturally dries quickly
Naturally dries slowly


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is cylindrical
Bole/stem form is straight


Tree Size
Tree height is 30-40 m
Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Tree height is 20-30 m
Tree height is 40-50 m
Bole length is 10-20 m
Tree height is 10-20 m
Bole length is 20-30 m


Blunting Effect
Little
Blunting effect on machining is slight


Gluing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Fair to Good Results
Moderate gluing properties
Easy to glue


Nailing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Easy to nail
Holds satisfactorily


Planing
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Ease of planing is moderate


Resistance to Impregnation
Permeable sapwood
Resistant heartwood
Resistant sapwood
Sapwood is permeable
Heartwood is moderately resistant


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to Work
Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work
Easy to machine
Moderate working qualities


Veneering Qualities
Suitable for peeling
Veneers easily
Suitable for slicing
Veneers moderately easy
No drying degrade
Easy to cut
Suitable for slicing
Suitable for peeling
No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting
Good gluing qualities


Painting
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Good results
Satisfactory results


Staining
Poor to Very Poor Results
Poor results


Varnishing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Good results
Satisfactory


Strength Properties
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low
Max. crushing strength = medium
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low
Hardness (side grain) = very soft
Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Shrinkage, Tangential = large
Shrinkage, Radial = large
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft.
Density (dry weight) = 15-22 lbs/cu. ft.


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength61119589psi
Density31lbs/ft3
Hardness319lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength39166397psi
Shearing Strength1334psi
Stiffness118813831000 psi
Weight3025lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage5%
Tangential Shrinkage8%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength429674kg/cm2
Density496kg/m3
Hardness144kg
Maximum Crushing Strength275449kg/cm2
Shearing Strength93kg/cm2
Stiffness83971000 kg/cm2
Weight480400kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage5%

References
Berni, C.A., Bolza, E., Christensen, F.J.,1979,South American Timbers - The Characteristics, Properties and Uses of 190,Species,C.S.I.R.O Div. Building Research

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 2 South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

Dallimore, W. and Jackson, A. Bruce,1966,A Handbook of Coniferae and Ginkgoaceae Fourth Ed. Revised by S.G.,Harrison,Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd. London

Forest Products Research Laboratory U.K.,1957,A Handbook of Softwoods,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research,HMSO

Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed.

I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting

Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press

Takahashi, A.,1975,Compilation of data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part 2,Central and South America,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No.4

United Kingdom - H.M.S.O.,1954,Report of the Matchwood Working Party,H.M.S.O. for the Board of Trade and Ministry of Materials