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Blunting Effect
Boring
Carving
Certified Source
Comments
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
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
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Strength Properties
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities
Weathering

Scientific Name
Michelia champaca

Trade Name
Chambaggam

Family Name
Magnoliaceae

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Chambaggam, Champ, Champa, Champak, Champakamu, Chempagam, Chempaka merah, Chyamka, Kanchanamu, Kola sampige, Kud champa, Laran, Napu, Oulia champ, Saga, Sagawa, Sampenga, Sampige, Sanga, Sapu, Sonchampa, Tita sopa

Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Burma, China, India, Malaysia, Nepal, Thailand

Common Uses
Boat building: framing, Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Light construction, Mathematical instruments, Paneling, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Textile equipment, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative

Environmental Profile
Questionable
Abundant/Secure


Heartwood Color
Brown
Black
White
Pale brown
Greenish to greyish
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Brown
Dark brown


Sapwood Color
Yellow
White
White to yellow


Grain
Straight
Figure
Even
Growth rings (figure)

Straight
Clear growth rings (figure)


Texture
Coarse
Medium
Fine
Medium
Fine to medium
Fine


Luster
Low
Lustrous


Natural Durability
Resistant to termites
Durable
Very durable
Susceptible to insect attack
Perishable
Resistant to powder post beetles
Moderately durable
Non-resistant to powder post beetles
Non-durable
Non durable
Very durable
Durable
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Perishable
Moderately durable


Weathering
Excellent


Toxicity
Some toxic effects


Kiln Schedules
Dry at a slow speed


Drying Defects
Checking
Distortion
Splitting
Severe end splitting
Moderate surface checking
Moderate end spitting


Ease of Drying
Moderately Difficult to Difficult
Thick Stock Requires Care
Slowly
Moderate
Easy
Difficult


Kiln Drying Rate
Naturally dries slowly


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is straight
Bole/stem form is cylindrical


Tree Size
Tree height is 10-20 m
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Sapwood width is 0-5 cm
Bole length is 0-10 m
Bole length is 20-30 m
Tree height is 20-30 m
Tree height is 30-40 m
Sapwood width is 5-10 cm


Certified Source
Certified Source


Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect
Moderate
Little
High to severe


Boring
Fairly easy to very easy


Carving
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw
Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy


Gluing
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Mortising
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Moulding
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Movement in Service
Excellent Stability - Small Movement
Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement


Nailing
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Fair to Good Results
Pre-Boring Recommended


Planing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results


Resistance to Impregnation
Resistant heartwood
Resistant sapwood
Permeable sapwood
Heartwood is extremely resistant


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to Work
Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work
Responds Readily
Easy to machine


Routing & Recessing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Sanding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Screwing
Pre-boring recommended
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Turning
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Poor to Very Poor Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Difficult to turn


Veneering Qualities
Difficult to veneer
Suitable for slicing
Easy to cut
Suitable for peeling


Polishing
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fair to Good Results
Surface Preparation
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Satisfactory results
Good results


Staining
Finish is generally satisfactory


Varnishing
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Strength Properties
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Max. crushing strength = medium
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Max. crushing strength = low
Hardness (side grain) = soft
Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft.


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength61119589psi
Density31lbs/ft3
Hardness995lbs
Impact Strength28inches
Maximum Crushing Strength31555334psi
Shearing Strength882psi
Stiffness101711991000 psi
Weight3025lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage3%
Tangential Shrinkage6%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength429674kg/cm2
Density496kg/m3
Hardness451kg
Impact Strength71cm
Maximum Crushing Strength221375kg/cm2
Shearing Strength62kg/cm2
Stiffness71841000 kg/cm2
Weight480400kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage3%

References
Bourdillon, T.F.,1908,The Forest Trees of Travancore,Travancore Government Press

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 3 Southern Asia,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London

Desch, H.E.,1954,Manual of Malayan Timbers (2 vols,Malayan Forest Records,no.15

Gamble, J.S.,1902,A Manual of Indian Timbers,Sampson Low, Marston & Co. London

McCann, C.,1947,Trees of India: A Popular Handbook,D.B.Taraporevala Sons & Co. Bombay

Nazma,1981,A handbook of Kerala Timbers,Kerala Forest Research Institute Research Report, No.9

Pearson, R.S., Brown, H.P.,1932,Commercial Timbers of India,Govt. Printer Calcutta,2 vols

Tewari, M.C., Jain, J.C.,1980,Utilization of Secondary Species,Journal of the National Building Organization 25(2) pp1-6

Whitmore, T.C.,1973,Tree Flora of Malaya A Manual for Foresters Volume 2,Forest Department Ministry of Primary Industries Malaysia