Wood inspector

Family: Monimiaceae

Common names: Pukatea

Distributed in: New Zealand (Oceania and S.E. Asia)

Distribution overview: Widely distributed in small quantities in the North Island forests of New Zealand. It is rarely found or is localized near the coast to the extreme north on the South Island. It grows from sea level to elevations of up to 2000 feet (60 m) on the North Island, and elevations of up to 500 feet (15 m) on the South Island. The species is intolerant of drought and thrives only in areas with well distributed annual rainfall. It prefers to grow mainly on fertile alluvial soils near swamps, and is also often found in damp, shaded gullies and ravines. Since it prefers persistently damp soils, the species occurs primarily in the forests of limestone hills in high rainfall regions, and on pumice soils which retain moisture.

Common uses: Boat building, Building construction, Building materials, Clogs, Construction, Flooring, Framing, Light construction, Specialty items, Wharf construction, Wooden shoes

Environment profile: Status has not been officially assessed

Tree size: The tree is described as tall, handsome and heavily buttressed. It attains a height of about 100 feet (30 m), sometimes but rarely 120 feet (37 m).Trunk diameter above buttresses is usually 24 to 36 inches (60 to 90 cm), and is rarely up to 60 inches (150 cm)

Colors: the heart isRed, Yellowand the sapwoodRed, Yellow.The grain isStraight, the textureMediumand the lusterLow Cloudy silver luster

Natural durability: Perishable, Sapwood has very little or no resistance to decay

Odor: No specific smell or taste

Kiln Schedules: Radial shrinkage is generally 2.2% Tangential shrinkage is generally 6.5% Volumetric shrinkage is around 7.8%

Drying Defects: The timber dries without degrade, except a tendency for incipient decay to spread

Ease of Drying: Stock with a thickness of inch (2.5 cm) air-seasons in 6 to 9 months with little degrade. Kiln-drying is not recommended since it is uneconomically slow.

Cutting Resistance: Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw The timber saws without difficulty

Nailing: Nails close to ends without splitting

Planing: Planing and other machining operations are generally easy, but worked surfaces of wood which are not air-dried properly tend to be rough

Resistance to Impregnation: Both sapwood and heartwood are moderately easy to treat with preservatives.

Response to hand tools: Easy to Work

Painting: Good Its fine and even texture accepts finishes well without filling;