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. Boring Comments Common Names Common Uses Corrosive Properties Countries of Distribution Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Response to Hand Tools Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size		Scientific Name Agathis microstachya Trade Name Black kauri pine Family Name Araucariaceae Common Names Black kauri pine, Bull kauri, Kauri, Kauri pine, North Queensland kauri, Queensland kauri Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Australia Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Flooring, Food containers, Furniture, Joinery, Light construction, Matches, Mathematical instruments, Musical instruments, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Sporting Goods, Toys, Turnery, Vats, Veneer Distribution Overview Occurs in Australia in N Queensland. Almost entirely confined to rainforests of the Atherton Tableland, at latitude 17-18° S and elevations of 400-900 m. The mean maximum temperature of the hottest month is 30°C and the mean minimum of the coldest month is 10°C (data for Atherton station). Precipitation is 1400-3300 mm, concentrated in the summer months, reaching a minimum of 25 mm in the driest month (August or September). Soils are deep loams to clays on varied silicic substrates. As with most species of Agathis, it grows as a rainforest emergent in a canopy composed of hundreds of different tree species. Heartwood Color Red White Brown Pink White to cream Pale red to pink Pale brown Grain Straight Even Straight Texture Fine Fine Natural Durability Non-durable Perishable Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to termites Non-resistant to marine borers Resistant to powder post beetles Non durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Corrosive Properties Non-corrosive Kiln Schedules Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Drying (speed) is fast Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Collapse Internal Honeycombing Possible Slight collapse and honeycomb Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Slowly Easy Kiln Drying Rate Rapid Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Naturally dries quickly Naturally dries at a moderate speed 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 cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 50-60 m Tree height is 40-50 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Bole length is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Trunk diameter is 300-350 cm Trunk diameter is 250-300 cm Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Moderately easy Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Nailing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Holds satisfactorily Holds nails well Easy to nail Planing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Planes well, to a good finish Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Screwing Fair to Good Results Screwing yields satisfactory results Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Moderate Painting Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Finish is generally good Staining (Characteristic) = non-staining Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = low Bending strength (MOR) = low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 6111 9589 psi Density 30 lbs/ft3 Maximum Crushing Strength 2139 3916 psi Shearing Strength 1052 psi Stiffness 1188 1383 1000 psi Weight 29 25 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 429 674 kg/cm2 Density 480 kg/m3 Maximum Crushing Strength 150 275 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 73 kg/cm2 Stiffness 83 97 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 464 400 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % References Boas, I.H.,1947,The Commercial Timbers of Australia - Their Properties and Uses,Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Melbourne Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 8 Australasia,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 Hall, N., Et al,1972,The use of trees and shrubs in the dry country of Australia,Australian Government, Department of National Development, Forest and,Timber Bureau, Canberra Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. Keating, W.G., Bolza, E.,1982,Characteristics properties and uses of timbers. South East Asia, Northern,Australia and the Pacific,C.S.I.R.O. Div. Chemical Technology,Inkata Press,1 Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press