Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Plantation species? Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Acacia melanoxylon Trade Name Australian blackwood Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Australian black acacia, Australian blackwood, Black sally, Black wattle, Blackwood, Cedar, Cedar lightwood, Lightwood, Swarthout, Tasmanian blackwood Plantation species? Yes Regions of Distribution Africa, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Argentina, Australia, Chile, India, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania Common Uses Bedroom suites, Bent Parts, Boat building (general), Boat building: framing, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Cooperages, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Drawer sides, Drum sticks, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Food containers, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture, Gunstocks, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Musical instruments , Musical instruments, Office furniture, Organ pipes, Paneling, Piano keys, Pianos , Plywood corestock, Plywood, Poles, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rifle stock, Sounding boards, Sporting Goods, Structural work, Tables, Tool handles, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Violin bows, Violin, Walking sticks, Wardrobes, Wheel spokes, Wheels, Xylophones, agricultural implements Environmental Profile Questionable Extinct Endangered Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare within its range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Particularly in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Lesotho, Swaziland, and South Africa Distribution Overview Australian Blackwood grows in Eastern Australia from Queensland southward to Victoria and also in Tasmania. It has been introduced into East and South Africa, India, Ceylon, Chile, and Argentina. It's distribution is closely linked to rainfall. The tree can be found in various habitats, chiefly wet sclerophyll forest and in or near cooler rainforest. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Red Orange Purple Black Dark brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Reddish brown Brown Pale brown Golden brown with a reddish cast May have chocolate brown zones. Plantation timber may be Greenish-greyish to black in color Sapwood Color White Yellow Green/Grey White to yellow Well defined Straw colored to grayish-white Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Wavy Straight Figure Other (figure) Closed Even Distinct (figure) Fiddleback (figure) Interlocked Rippled (figure) Generally straight, but not always Wavy Other figures are possible or common Rippled figure Occasionally wavy Occasionally interlocked, but not always Fiddleback figure Distinct figure Texture Medium Fine Even or uniform Uniform Medium Fine Fine to medium Even textured Luster Medium High Lustrous Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to powder post beetles Durable Non-resistant to termites Perishable Non-durable Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Perishable Moderately durable Untreated wood in contact with ground could decay in less than 5 years Non durable Little or no natural resistance Odor No specific smell or taste Toxicity Some toxic effects Respiratory effects Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Dry at a moderate speed Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Splitting Distortion Checking Collapse Internal Honeycombing Possible Slight surface checking Moderate cupping Slight end splitting Slight collapse and honeycomb No twisting or warping No surface checking No end splitting Moderate end spitting Wide, flat-sawn boards have a tendency to cup but this can be avoided by weighting down stack Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Moderately Difficult to Difficult Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Rapidly Easy Moderate Kiln Drying Rate Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Naturally dries at a moderate speed Naturally dries quickly Rapid Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is unknown Bole/stem form is misshapen Bole/stem form is buttressed Stem form tends to be straighter with plantation-grown timber Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Sapwood width is 15-20 cm Bole length is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Product Sources Supplies of the timber are adequate in Australia, but are limited in other parts of the world. Prices are in the high range when the material is available. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Easy Difficult Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Material with interlocked grain can be difficult. Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to glue Moderate gluing properties Satisfactory gluing properties Gluing properties are variable Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Moulding Poor to Very Poor Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor moulding results Reduce cutting angle to 20 degrees, especially if interlocked grain is present Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Medium Stable Small Not stable/prone to move Plantation timber is less stable Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor to Very Poor Results Fair to Good Results Pre-Boring Recommended Difficult to nail Easy to nail Satisfactory nailing properties Possible if prebored Nails hold poorly Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Poor to Very Poor Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planes well, to a good finish Moderately easy to plane Responds well to both hand and machine tools Reduced cutting angle of 20 degrees is suggested Planes to a poor finish Easy to plane Material containing curly grain usually requires extra attention. Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Permeable heartwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is resistant Sapwood is permeable Sapwood is moderately treatable Sapwood is extremely resistant Heartwood is permeable Heartwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is extremely resistant to preservative treatment Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Difficult to machine Satisfactorily Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory sanding results Moderate sanding qualities Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to screw Good screw holding properties Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to turn Very good Good results Veneering Qualities Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling Veneers moderately easy Veneers easily Difficult to veneer There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Suitable for slicing Moderately easy to veneer Easy to cut Steam Bending Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Very good Good Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Satisfactory results Excellent results Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Finish is generally satisfactory Stains well Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = soft Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Max. crushing strength = medium Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Tangential = small Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact strength) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Hardness (side grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Resists denting and marring Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high Heavy Hardness (side grain) = very soft Density = high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 10023 15313 psi Crushing Strength 784 1377 psi Density 41 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1075 lbs Impact Strength 39 37 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 5381 8437 psi Shearing Strength 2062 psi Static Bending 5831 8653 psi Stiffness 1789 2122 1000 psi Toughness 144 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.5 0.54 Weight 40 33 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 10 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 704 1076 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 55 96 kg/cm2 Density 657 kg/m3 Hardness 487 kg Impact Strength 98 93 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 378 593 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 144 kg/cm2 Static Bending 409 608 kg/cm2 Stiffness 125 149 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 165 cm-kg Specific Gravity 0.5 0.54 Weight 641 528 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % References Australia - Forest Products Newsletter,1963,Properties of Australian Timbers - Blackwood,C.S.I.R.O. 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