Rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum)
Family: Cupressaceae
Common names: New Zealand red pine, Red Pine, Rimu
Distributed in: New Zealand (Oceania and S.E. Asia)
Distribution overview: New Zealand, Australia, New Caledonia, Malay Archipelago, and Borneo. Rimu is a native of New Zealand. The species grows throughout the country but by far the major volume is grown on the West Coast of the South Island with only relatively minor volumes scattered throughout the North Island. It is the most widely occurring of all forest trees native to New Zealand.
Common uses: Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boat building: planking, Boxes and crates, Bridge construction, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Flooring, Food containers, Framing, Furniture , Furniture, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Light construction, Moldings, Paneling , Paneling, Plywood, Railroad ties, Structural work, Turnery, Veneer, Veneer: decorative
Product sources: Rimu is widely available in a great variety of sizes in New Zealand. The material is often free of defects or has very little defect, and is highly popular not only for building construction, but for many other purposes. Harvesting of the timber in New Zealand was reduced (1957) as a national forest conservation measure
Environment profile: Status has not been officially assessed
Tree size: Sapwood width is 0-5 cm
The biggest trees occuring on hill sites, especially in the north
Colors: the heart isReddish brown, Yellow to golden-yellow to orangeand the sapwoodWhite to yellow, Yellow.The grain isWeak figure, the textureUniformand the lusterMedium
Natural durability: Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles, Very durable
Odor: No specific smell or taste
LightInduced Color Change: Lighter
Kiln Schedules: UK=H US=T10D4S/T8D3S Fr=7
Drying Defects: Slight surface checking, Slight twist/warp
Ease of Drying: Easy
Radial = 3.0%
Shrinkage (Green to 12% MC)
Tangential = 4.2%
The timber is reported to air-dry fairly easily with little degrade and can also be kiln-dried from the green condition without too much difficulty.
Volumetric = 6.2%
Tree Identification: Bole/stem form is straight
Comments: General finishing qualities are rated as good General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory
Blunting Effect: Blunting effect on machining is slight
Boring: Easy
Gluing: Very good properties
Mortising: Finishes well
Moulding: Good finishing
Movement in Service: Good finishing
Nailing: Holds nails well, Pre-Boring is necessary
Planing: Relatively easy to bore
Resistance to Impregnation: Sapwood is moderately resistant
Resistance to Splitting: Satisfactory
Response to hand tools: Moderate working qualities
Routing recessing: Routing yields good results
Veneering qualities:
Logs are rotary cut for plywood manufacture, and figured material is sliced for architectural veneers. The pigmented figure present in the seasoned heartwood is highly decorative, and responds rather well to natural finishes
Steam bending: Good
Screwing: Screwing yields good results, Very good screw holding qualities; Turning: Good results
Painting: Good
Sapwood requires great care since it is dimensionally unstable.; Polishing: Very Good to Excellent; Staining: Finish is generally satisfactory;
- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
 |
 |
 |
 |
Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,45 |
0,48 |
|
Density |
|
576 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
509 |
778 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
40 |
74 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
376 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
|
|
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
93 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
79 |
89 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
|
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
2 |
|
% |
Weight |
560 |
480 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
|
|
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
192 |
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
285 |
456 |
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | Item | Green | Dry | English | Bending Strength | 7246 | 11077 | psi | Crushing Strength | 578 | 1058 | psi | Density | | 36 | lbs/ft3 | Hardness | | 831 | lbs | Maximum Crushing Strength | 3560 | 5864 | psi | Shearing Strength | | 1330 | psi | Static Bending | 4057 | 6497 | psi | Stiffness | 1129 | 1266 | 1000 psi | Toughness | | 167 | inch-lbs | Specific Gravity | 0.45 | 0.48 | | Weight | 35 | 30 | lbs/ft3 | Radial Shrinkage | 2 | | % | Tangential Shrinkage | 7 | | % | |
Max. crushing strength = medium 1 Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. 1 Bending strength (MOR) = low 1 Hardness (side grain) = soft Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Hardness (side grain) = very soft Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Max. crushing strength = low Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft.
Ow resistance to shock loads, and very low stiffness. Density and weight are medium
Banks, C.H.,1954,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with Particular Reference to those,grown in the Union of South Africa,Journal of the South African Forestry Association,No. 24 pp.44-65,[South,African Forestry Journal]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.41Bolza, E.,1976,Timber and Health,Div. Building Res. C.S.I.R.O. AustraliaBrown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 8 Australasia,TRADA, Red Booklet SeriesClifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. LondonCockayne, L. and Phillips Turner, E.,1958,The trees of New Zealand,New Zealand Forest Service Information Series No.12Dallimore, W. and Jackson, A. Bruce,1966,A Handbook of Coniferae and Ginkgoaceae Fourth Ed. Revised by S.G.,Harrison,Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd. LondonForest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1945,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products ResearchHoward, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed.Jackson, A. and D. Day. 1992. Good Wood Handbook - The Wood worker's Guide to Identifying, Selecting and Using the Right Wood. HarperCollins Publishers, LondonKloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12Lauricio, F.M., Bellosillo, S.B.,1966,Fifth Progress Report on the Mechanical and Related Properties of,Philippine woods,Philippine Lumberman,12(5,p66Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc. Fresno, California.Meylan, B.A. and B.G. Butterfield. 1978. The Structure of New Zealand Woods. DSIR Bulletin 222. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Published by Science Information Division, P. O. Box 9741, Wellington, New Zealand.New Zealand Forest Service. 1957. Forest Trees and Timbers of New Zealand. Bulletin No. 12, New Zealand Forest Service. Compiled under the Direction of A.R. Entrican by H.V. Hinds and J.S. Reid. Governemnt Printer, Wellington, New Zealand.Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical PressRendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. LondonSmith, S.W. and Entrican, A.R.,1957,Forestry in New Zealand,New Zealand Forest Service Information Series No.1Stone, H.,1924,The Timbers of Commerce and their Identification,William Rider & Sons Ltd. LondonTitmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd editionWallis, N.K. 1956. Australian Timber Handbook. Sponsored by The Timber Development Association of Australia. Angus & Robertson, Ltd., 89 Castlereagh Street, Sydney, Australia.Ward, W.C. and Reid, J.S.,1949,The properties and uses of Rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum,New Zealand Forest Service Information Series No.2
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