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Blunting Effect Boring Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Dacrydium cupressinum Trade Name Rimu Family Name Cupressaceae Common Names New Zealand red pine, Red Pine, Rimu Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] New Zealand Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boat building: planking, Boxes and crates, Bridge construction, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Flooring, Food containers, Framing, Furniture , Furniture, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Light construction, Moldings, Paneling , Paneling, Plywood, Railroad ties, Structural work, Turnery, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview New Zealand, Australia, New Caledonia, Malay Archipelago, and Borneo. Rimu is a native of New Zealand. The species grows throughout the country but by far the major volume is grown on the West Coast of the South Island with only relatively minor volumes scattered throughout the North Island. It is the most widely occurring of all forest trees native to New Zealand. Heartwood Color Brown Black Purple Reddish brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Brown Pale brown Light brown Dark brown Dark brown Regular dark streaks which fade upon exposure Sapwood Color White Yellow Paler than heartwood White to yellow Light brown Grain Straight Figure Distinct (figure) Even Stripe (figure) Growth rings (figure) Weak (figure) Straight Distinct figure Striped figure Weak figure Clear growth rings (figure) A rich pigment figure is present in the seasoned heartwood. It is highly attractive and can be enhanced with a natural finish Texture Fine Fine Uniform Even textured Luster Medium High Medium Natural Growth Defects Exudes gum/resin Natural Durability Moderately durable Very durable Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable The sapwood has very little or no natural resistance to attack by wood destroying organisms such as Anobium, and is somewhat susceptible to sap stain. The heartwood is durable above ground, but is non-durable when placed in contact with the ground Odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Lighter Toxicity Unspecified toxicity Respiratory effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a moderate speed UK=H US=T10D4S/T8D3S Fr=7 T13-C4S (4/4); T11-D3s (8/4) US Schedule K (4/4) United Kingdom Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Slight surface checking Slight twist/warp There is a slight tendency for the wood to surface check during drying. Ease of Drying Easy Radial = 3.0% Shrinkage (Green to 12% MC) Tangential = 4.2% The timber is reported to air-dry fairly easily with little degrade and can also be kiln-dried from the green condition without too much difficulty. Volumetric = 6.2% Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is fluted Tree Size Sapwood width is 0-5 cm The biggest trees occuring on hill sites, especially in the north Product Sources Rimu is widely available in a great variety of sizes in New Zealand. The material is often free of defects or has very little defect, and is highly popular not only for building construction, but for many other purposes. Harvesting of the timber in New Zealand was reduced (1957) as a national forest conservation measure Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Easy Gluing Easy to glue Very good properties Mortising Easy to mortise Finishes well Moulding Good finishing results Easy to mould Movement in Service Stable Stability is rated as medium The heartwood is very stable, but the sapwood is unstable Nailing Pre-Boring is necessary Holds nails well Easy to nail Planing Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Relatively easy to bore Generally easy to mortise Easy to mould Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is moderately resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is resistant The sapwood responds fairly well to pressure and diffusion methods of treatment Resistance to Splitting Poor Satisfactory Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Moderate blunting effect on cutting edges Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Routing yields good results Routing is easy Screwing Very good screw holding qualities Screwing yields good results Possible if prebored Poor results Easy to screw Turning Good results Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Logs are rotary cut for plywood manufacture, and figured material is sliced for architectural veneers. The pigmented figure present in the seasoned heartwood is highly decorative, and responds rather well to natural finishes Steam Bending Good Painting Good results Sapwood requires great care since it is dimensionally unstable. Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good results Satisfactory results Staining Finish is generally good Finish is generally satisfactory Wood has excellent qualities for natural finish. Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = medium Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Hardness (side grain) = soft Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Hardness (side grain) = very soft Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Max. crushing strength = low Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Ow resistance to shock loads, and very low stiffness. Density and weight are medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7246 11077 psi Crushing Strength 578 1058 psi Density 36 lbs/ft3 Hardness 831 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 3560 5864 psi Shearing Strength 1330 psi Static Bending 4057 6497 psi Stiffness 1129 1266 1000 psi Toughness 167 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.45 0.48 Weight 35 30 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 509 778 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 40 74 kg/cm2 Density 576 kg/m3 Hardness 376 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 250 412 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 93 kg/cm2 Static Bending 285 456 kg/cm2 Stiffness 79 89 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 192 cm-kg Specific Gravity 0.45 0.48 Weight 560 480 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % References Banks, C.H.,1954,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with Particular Reference to those,grown in the Union of South Africa,Journal of the South African Forestry Association,No. 24 pp.44-65,[South,African Forestry Journal] Bier, H.,1983,The strength properties of small clear specimens of New Zealand-grown,timber,New Zealand Forest Service Forest Research Institute, FRI Bulletin No.41 Bolza, E.,1976,Timber and Health,Div. Building Res. C.S.I.R.O. Australia Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 8 Australasia,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London Cockayne, L. and Phillips Turner, E.,1958,The trees of New Zealand,New Zealand Forest Service Information Series No.12 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.,1945,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. Jackson, A. and D. Day. 1992. Good Wood Handbook - The Wood worker's Guide to Identifying, Selecting and Using the Right Wood. HarperCollins Publishers, London Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12 Lauricio, F.M., Bellosillo, S.B.,1966,Fifth Progress Report on the Mechanical and Related Properties of,Philippine woods,Philippine Lumberman,12(5,p66 Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc. Fresno, California. Meylan, B.A. and B.G. Butterfield. 1978. The Structure of New Zealand Woods. DSIR Bulletin 222. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Published by Science Information Division, P. O. Box 9741, Wellington, New Zealand. New Zealand Forest Service. 1957. Forest Trees and Timbers of New Zealand. Bulletin No. 12, New Zealand Forest Service. Compiled under the Direction of A.R. Entrican by H.V. Hinds and J.S. Reid. Governemnt Printer, Wellington, New Zealand. Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London Smith, S.W. and Entrican, A.R.,1957,Forestry in New Zealand,New Zealand Forest Service Information Series No.1 Stone, H.,1924,The Timbers of Commerce and their Identification,William Rider & Sons Ltd. London Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition Wallis, N.K. 1956. Australian Timber Handbook. Sponsored by The Timber Development Association of Australia. Angus & Robertson, Ltd., 89 Castlereagh Street, Sydney, Australia. Ward, W.C. and Reid, J.S.,1949,The properties and uses of Rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum,New Zealand Forest Service Information Series No.2