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 Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Plantation species? Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Eucalyptus obliqua Trade Name Messmate stringybark Family Name Myrtaceae Common Names Australian oak, Brown-top stringy bark, Brown-top stringybark, Messmate, Messmate stringybark, Mountain ash, Obliqua gum, Stringybark, Tasmanian oak, Victorian oak Plantation species? Yes Regions of Distribution Africa, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Australia, Kenya, New Zealand, South Africa Common Uses Beams, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Bridge construction, Broom handles, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Cooperages, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Door, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles, Handles: general, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Joinery, Joists, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Mine timbers, Moldings, Office furniture, Packing cases, Paneling , Paneling, Parquet flooring, Piling, Plywood, Poles, Porch columns, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Structural work, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Wharf construction Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Southeastern Australia, including Tasmania. Widespread distribution across the coast and lower ranges of Victoria and Tasmania, and in the tablelands and adjacent ranges of New south Wales and the Queensland south east border region. Heartwood Color Red Pink Brown White Purple Pale brown Brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale red to pink Sapwood Color White Brown Yellow Paler than heartwood Color not distinct from heartwood About 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 3.8 cm) wide Grain Straight Figure Closed Even Interlocked Growth rings (figure) Generally straight, but not always Interlocked Clear growth rings (figure) Quartered surfaces are reported to exhibit a fiddleback figure, although it is usually not prominent. Texture Coarse Medium Coarse Medium coarse Fine Fine to medium Fairly open Natural Growth Defects Stone Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Moderately durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Durable Resistant to termites Non-durable Non-resistant to termites Very durable Non-resistant to marine borers Perishable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately durable Durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Very durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Resistant to attack from pinworms (ambrosia beetles) Non durable Odor No specific smell or taste Toxicity Respiratory effects Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Uk = C UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 Drying Defects Splitting Internal Honeycombing Possible Collapse Distortion Checking Severe collapse and honeycomb Moderate collapse and honeycombing Slight surface checking Severe twisting/warping Severe surface checking Severe end splitting Moderate cupping Expect slight collapse and honeycombing Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Slowly Difficult Dries readily and rapidly. Air drying prior to 30%moisture results in most satisfactory response. Backsawn green material is reported to develop surface checks if kiln dried. Quartersawn stock tends to edge-check Kiln Drying Rate Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Naturally dries slowly Rapid Drying rate is slow Tree Size Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 50-60 m Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Comments Fissile General finishing qualities are rated as good General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Light Moderate Strength Blunting Effect Moderate Little Blunting effect on machining is moderate Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Satisfactory results Easy Carving Slight to moderate blunting effect on cutters Responds satisfactorily to boring, turning and other wood working operations Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Responds satisfactorily to bandsawing Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Moderate gluing properties Glues well Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Lunting effect is moderate, but the material has satisfactory mortising properties. Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Response is satisfactory Moderate blunting of cutters Movement in Service Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Medium Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Easy to Very Easy Pre-boring recommended Holds satisfactorily Difficult to nail Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Planes to a satisfactory finish Planes to a poor finish Fairly easy to plane Ease of planing is moderate Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is resistant Heartwood is moderately resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is resistant to impregnation Heartwood is extremely resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Satisfactorily Responds well to hand tools Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Satisfactory resistance to decay above ground Finishes poorly Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Contains alkaloids giving it good acid resistance Screwing Pre-boring recommended Easy to screw Screwing yields satisfactory results Possible if prebored Turning Fair to Good Results Poor to Very Poor Results Turns with moderate ease Gluing properties are satisfactory Finish is generally satisfactory Veneering Qualities Suitable for slicing Veneers moderately easy Veneers easily Suitable for peeling Moderately easy to veneer Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling Easy to cut Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Some buckling and fracture of the fibers in steam bending Good Timber is reported to bend well to a radius of about 6 inches (15 cm) Painting Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent 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 Responds readily to staining Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Max. crushing strength = high Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Density (dry weight) = 53-60 Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9898 15806 psi Crushing Strength 844 1387 psi Density 45 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1435 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 5449 8598 psi Shearing Strength 1784 psi Static Bending 6282 10094 psi Stiffness 1814 2154 1000 psi Toughness 145 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.57 0.7 Weight 44 34 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 695 1111 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 59 97 kg/cm2 Density 721 kg/m3 Hardness 650 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 383 604 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 125 kg/cm2 Static Bending 441 709 kg/cm2 Stiffness 127 151 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 167 cm-kg Specific Gravity 0.57 0.7 Weight 705 544 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % References Australia - N.S.W. Forestry Commission,1968,Working Properties of some Native and Imported Timbers,Forestry Commission of New South Wales, Technical Publication No.8 Australia - N.S.W. Forestry Commission,1988,Furniture Timbers of New South Wales,Forest Commission, N.S.W., Aust. Tech. Publication No.1 Banks, C.H., and Schwegman, L.M.,1956,Notes on the Properties of the Timber of South African Grown Eucalyptus,obliqua L'Herit.,Journal of South African Forestry Association No.28, 57-60 Banks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48 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 Boas, I.H.,1947,The Commercial Timbers of Australia - Their Properties and Uses,Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Melbourne Bolza, E., Keating, W.G.,1972,African Timbers - the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 700 Species,C.S.I.R.O. Div. of Building Research Bolza, E., Kloot, N. H. 1963. The Mechanical Properties of 174 Australian Timbers. Technological Paper No. 25. Division of Forest Products, Center for Scientific and Industrial Organization (CSIRO, Melbourne, Australia Bolza, E., Kloot, N.H.,1963,The Mechanical Properties of 174 Australian Timbers,C.S.I.R.O. Division of Forest Products Technological Paper,No.25 Bolza, E.,1976,Timber and Health,Div. Building Res. C.S.I.R.O. Australia Forests Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1956,A Handbook of Hardwoods,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research Establishment Gay, F.J., Et al,1955,Standard laboratory colonies of termites for evaluating the resistance of,timber, timber preservatives and other materials to termite attack.,C.S.I.R.O., Australia Bulletin,No.277 Haslett, A.N., Kininmonth, J.A., Revell, D.,1984,Utilisation of New Zealand-grown Eucalypts,What's New in Forest Research No.122 Haslett, A.N.,1988,Properties and utilisation of exotic speciality timbers grown in New,Zealand Part V: Ash Eucalypts and Eucalyptus nitens E. regans,,E.delegatensis, E.fastigata, E.obliqua, E.sieberi, E.fraxinoides, E.nitens,New Zealand Forest Service, Forest Research Institute, FRI Bulletin No.119 Hillis, W.E. and A.G. Brown, Editors. 1984. Eucalyptus for Wood Production. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Academic Press, Australia. HMSO. 1972. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California. Poynton, R.J.,1957,Notes on Exotic Forest Trees in South Africa (Second Edition, Revised,South African Forestry Department Bulletin No.38 Scott, M.H.,1935,Weights of South African Growth Timbers,South African Department of Agriculture and Forestry Bulletin,No.145,Forest Products Institute, Forestry Series No.1 Takahashi, A.,1978,Compilation of Data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part,III) Africa,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No. 7 The Australian Timber Journal & Building Products, Merchandiser,1969,Timber Durability and Preservation,Supplement to Australian Timber Journal 35(4) Tech. Timb. Guide No.8 Thomas, A.J.,1955,Tasmanian Woods,Forestry Department Tasmania, Bulletin No.1 Timber Development Association,1942,Tasmanian Oak - Eucalyptus obliqua, E. regnans and E. gigantea,TRADA Timber Leaflet No. 30 Wallis, N.K. 1956. Australian Timber Handbook. Sponsored by The Timber Development Association of Australia. Angus & Robertson, Ltd., 89 Castlereagh Street, Sydney, Australia.