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Blunting Effect
Boring
Carving
Comments
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Distribution Overview
Ease of Drying
Environmental Profile
Family Name
Gluing
Grain
Heartwood Color
Kiln Schedules
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Odor
Planing
References
Regions of Distribution
Response to Hand Tools
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Strength Properties
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Size
Turning

Scientific Name
Alstonia actinophylla

Trade Name
Northern territory milkwood

Family Name
Apocynaceae

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Basong, Dita, Mergalang, Milkwood, Milky pine, Mo cua, Northern territory milkwood, Pulai, Shaitan wood

Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
India

Common Uses
Bent Parts, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Drawer sides, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Hatracks, Interior construction, Interior trim, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Millwork, Moldings, Office furniture, Packing cases, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Stools, Trimming, Utility furniture, Veneer, Wainscotting, Wardrobes, Woodwork

Environmental Profile
Status unknown in many of its growth areas
Status has not been officially assessed


Distribution Overview
In Australia, in North Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia.

Heartwood Color
White
Brown
Yellow
Red
Yellowish white
Pale brown


Sapwood Color
White
Brown
Yellow
Red
Green/Grey
Straw colored to grayish-white
Color not distinct from heartwood


Grain
Even
Straight
Interlocked

Interlocked
Generally straight, but not always


Texture
Medium
Fine
Coarse
Medium to coarse
Fine to medium


Luster
High
Medium
Lustrous


Natural Durability
Perishable
Non-resistant to powder post beetles
Vulnerable to attack by powder-post beetles
susceptible to sap stain


Odor
No specific smell or taste


Kiln Schedules
T10 - D4S (4/4)US


Ease of Drying
Rapidly
Reconditioning Treatement
Fairly Easy
Little degrade
Little degrade if dried properly
Easy
Dries at a fairly rapid rate


Tree Size
Bole length is 10-20 m
Tree height is 20-30 m


Comments
Large slit-like canals containing latex are usually present

Blunting Effect
Little
Blunting effect on machining is slight


Boring
Fair to good results
Good (75+ pieces out of 100 will yield good to excellent results)


Carving
Fair to Good Results
Good results


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Low resistance to sawing


Gluing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Moderate gluing properties


Mortising
Fair to Good Results
Good mortising properties


Moulding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Good moulding properties


Nailing
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Satisfactory nailing properties


Planing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Planes well, to a good finish
Good planing properties


Response to Hand Tools
Responds Readily
Responds well to hand tools


Screwing
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Good screw holding properties


Turning
Fair to Good Results
Good results


Strength Properties
Density is high , hard wood, and can be dented and marred easily

Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength50277699.psi
Density25lbs/ft3
Hardness451lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength27344382.psi
Stiffness8821042.1000 psi
Toughness175inch-lbs
Specific Gravity0.3
Weight2520.lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage3%
Tangential Shrinkage6%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength353541.kg/cm2
Density400kg/m3
Hardness204kg
Maximum Crushing Strength192308.kg/cm2
Stiffness6273.1000 kg/cm2
Toughness201cm-kg
Specific Gravity0.3
Weight400320.kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage3%

References
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

Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.

Kloot, N.H. and E. Bolza. 1961. Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia. Division of Forest Products Technological Paper No. 12. Commonwealth scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Melbourne, Australia.