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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 Painting Planing 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 Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Agathis vitiensis Trade Name Fijian kauri Family Name Araucariaceae Common Names Dakua, Dakua makadre, Fiji kauri, Fijian kauri, Ndakua makandre Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Fiji [Polynesia], Fiji Common Uses Balusters, Boat building (general), Boat building: decking, Boat building: masts, Boat building: planking, Boxes and crates, Brush backs & handles, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chemical containers, Coffins, Decks, Food containers, Furniture, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Light construction, Matches, Model airplanes, Moldings, Musical instruments, Oars, Paneling , Paneling, Particleboard, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vats, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Xylophones Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview A close relative of New Zealand Kauri (Agathis australis), the species grows in the Fiji islands. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow White Orange Red Pink Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Brown White to cream Pale brown Pinkish white Light brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red White to yellow Paler than heartwood Different than heartwood Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Straight Even Figure Mottle Weak (figure) Generally straight, but not always Weak figure Mottled or streaked figure sometimes Texture Fine Even or uniform Fine Uniform Luster Medium High Often lustrous Lustrous Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Non-durable Resistant to powder post beetles Perishable Non-resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to termites Sapwood not resistant to insect attack Non-resistant to termites Non durable Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack by marine borers and termites Sapwood is vulnerable to insect attack and tends to decay rapidly Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Perishable Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid T10 - D5s (4/4); T8 - D4s (8/4) US/T10 - D5s (4/4); T8 - D4s (8/4) US Drying Defects Collapse Distortion Discoloration Internal Honeycombing Possible Distortion (twist/warp) is likely Collapse and honeycomb in heartwood is possible due to mineral stains and wetwood. Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Medium to High Shrinkage Reconditioning Treatement Requires special attention Moderately Difficult to Difficult Stains easily Moderate Easy Dip treat with anti-stain solution soon after conversion and before stacking. Kiln Drying Rate Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Rapid Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Bole length is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Comments Abnormal Wood Tissue Blunting Effect Little Moderate There is some significant blunting effect on cutting tools Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Moderately easy Moderately easy Easy to bore but stock must be properly supported at the tool exit to prevent defects Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to carve Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Low resistance to sawing Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moderate gluing properties Mortising Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Finishes well Support material during mortising to prevent break out. Moulding Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good moulding properties Good finishing results Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Stable Holds shape well Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Variable, from difficult to satisfactory Pre-boring recommended Holds nails well Easy to nail Difficult to nail Planing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planes well, to a good finish Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Sapwood has low permeability Heartwood is resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Responds well to hand tools Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Routing is easy Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to sand Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Very good screw holding qualities Easy to screw Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Easy to turn Difficult to turn Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy Difficult to veneer Easy to cut Suitable for peeling Drying degrade is often moderate to severe, with collapse, buckles, and splilts Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Moderate Painting Fair to Good Results Little or no surface prep required Good results Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results High polish Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Stains well Varnishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Hardness (side grain) = soft Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Hardness (side grain) = very soft Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Toughness (total work) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7462 12743 psi Crushing Strength 534 1024 psi Density 33 lbs/ft3 Hardness 842 lbs Impact Strength 28 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3868 6919 psi Shearing Strength 1789 psi Static Bending 4136 7918 psi Stiffness 1457 1715 1000 psi Toughness 225 inch-lbs Work to Maximum Load 12 17 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.37 Weight 32 26 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 524 895 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 37 71 kg/cm2 Density 528 kg/m3 Hardness 381 kg Impact Strength 71 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 271 486 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 125 kg/cm2 Static Bending 290 556 kg/cm2 Stiffness 102 120 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 259 cm-kg Work to Maximum Load 0.84 1.19 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.37 Weight 512 416 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % References Alston, A.S.,1966,Natural Heartwood Durability,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva. Fiji timbers and their uses No. 2 Alston, A.S.,1982,Timbers of Fiji: Properties and potential uses,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva Bolza, E., Kloot, N.H.,1972,The Mechanical Properties of 56 Fijian Timbers,Australia C.S.I.R.O. Division of Forest Products Technological Paper,No.,62 Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Hardwoods -Temperate and Tropical. USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 8 Australasia,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Budgen, B.,1981,Shrinkage and density of some Australian and South-East Asian Timbers,C.S.I.R.O. Div. building Res. Tech Paper(2nd Series) No.38 Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. 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 Eddowes, P. J. 1961. Commercial Timbers of Papua New Guinea:Their Properties and Uses. Office of Forests, Papua New Guinea Fiji Department of Forestry,1969,A Summary of the Properties of 34 Indigenous Timbers,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva. Fiji timbers and their uses No.38 Fiji Department of Forestry,1972,Guide to the use of local timbers,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva. Fiji timbers and their uses No.55 Fiji Forestry Department,1966,The Properties and Potential uses of Dakua makadre (Agathis vitiensis) A,Summary of C.S.I.R.O. Investigations,Fiji Timbers and Their Uses No.8, Department of Forestry, Suva, Fiji Fiji Forestry Department,1967,The Properties and Potential Uses of Buabua (Fagraea gracilipes) A Summary,of C.S.I.R.O. Investigations,Fiji Timbers and their Uses No. 14, Department of Forestry, Suva, Fiji Fiji Forestry Department,1981,The Properties and Uses of 43 Indigenous and Exotic Timbers,Fiji Forestry Department, Fiji Timbers and their Uses No.71 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 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 Kloot, N. H. and E. Bolza. 1961. Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia. Technological Paper No. 12. Division of Forest Products, Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organization, Melbourne, Australia. Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12 Lavers, G.M.,1983,The Strength Properties of Timber (3rd ed. revised Moore G.L.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Report (formerly Bulletin No.50) U.K. - Colonial Forest Resources Development Department,1939,British Colonial Timbers - Woods recommended for Various Uses,Colonial Forest Resources Development Department,London