Scientific Name
Palaquium hornei
Trade Name
Fiji hardwood
Family Name
Sapotaceae
Common Names
Fiji hardwood, Fijian palaquium, Sacau
Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia
Countries of Distribution
Fiji [Polynesia]
Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Cabinetmaking, Decks, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Ladders, Light construction, Mine timbers, Piling, Posts, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Turnery, Vehicle parts
Heartwood Color
| Reddish brown | ||||||||||||
| Purple |
Sapwood Color
| Paler than heartwood |
Grain
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Interlocked | ||||||||||||
| Straight |
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Interlocked |
Texture
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Coarse | ||||||||||||
| Fine to medium | ||||||||||||
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Fine |
Natural Durability
| Non-durable | ||||||||||||
| Perishable | ||||||||||||
| Non-resistant to powder post beetles | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to insect attack | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles | ||||||||||||
| Durable | ||||||||||||
| Very durable | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to marine borer attack | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles |
Toxicity
| Dermatitic effects |
Kiln Schedules
| Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid |
Drying Defects
| Distortion | ||||||||||||
| Splitting | ||||||||||||
| Moderate surface checking | ||||||||||||
| Moderate collapse and honeycombing |
Ease of Drying
| Fairly Easy |
Kiln Drying Rate
| Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) |
Tree Size
| Tree height is 40-50 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 60-70 m | ||||||||||||
| Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm |
Cutting Resistance
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw | ||||||||||||
| Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult | ||||||||||||
| Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult |
Movement in Service
| Stable |
Nailing
| Holds nails well | ||||||||||||
| Difficult to nail |
Planing
| Poor to Very Poor Results |
Resistance to Splitting
| Poor |
Turning
| Good results | ||||||||||||
| Easy to turn |
Strength Properties
| Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = high | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = large | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = large | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = high | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = small | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large | ||||||||||||
| Hardness (side grain) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Hardness (side grain) = hard |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 11442 | 17761 | psi |
| Density | 57 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Hardness | 1987 | lbs | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 6899 | 9945 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | 2205 | psi | |
| Stiffness | 1916 | 2209 | 1000 psi |
| Weight | 56 | 46 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 6 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 9 | % | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 804 | 1248 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | 913 | kg/m3 | |
| Hardness | 901 | kg | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 485 | 699 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | 155 | kg/cm2 | |
| Stiffness | 134 | 155 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Weight | 897 | 737 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 6 | % |
References
Alston, A.S.,1966,Natural Heartwood Durability,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva. Fiji timbers and their uses No. 2
Alston, A.S.,1966,Powder Post Beetle Lyctus Species,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva. Fiji timbers and their uses No.6
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
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
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,1969,Timbers for Flooring A Note on Current & Potential Species,Fiji Timbers and their Uses No.36, 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
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