Scientific Name
Ceratopetalum succirubrum
Trade Name
PNG coachwood
Family Name
Cunoniaceae
Common Names
PNG coachwood, Satin sycamore
Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Australia, India, Papua New Guinea
Common Uses
Bedroom suites, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Core Stock, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Fixtures, Floor lamps, Framing, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Hatracks, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Millwork, Moldings, Office furniture, Paneling , Plywood, Radio – stereo – TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Stools, Tables , Trimming, Turnery
Environmental Profile
The environmental status of this species within its geographical boundaries has not been officially determined
Distribution Overview
Southeast Asia, primarily in the Andaman Islands, Papua New Guinea and Australia.
Heartwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Black | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Orange | ||||||||||||
| Tan | ||||||||||||
| Pinkish brown | ||||||||||||
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Figure | ||||||||||||
| Distinct (figure) | ||||||||||||
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Figure | ||||||||||||
| Interlocked | ||||||||||||
| Birds-eye (figure) | ||||||||||||
| Stripe (figure) |
Texture
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Coarse |
Natural Durability
| Durable | ||||||||||||
| Very durable | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to termites | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to marine borers | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to insect attack | ||||||||||||
| Moderately durable | ||||||||||||
| Non-resistant to powder post beetles | ||||||||||||
| Non-resistant to termites | ||||||||||||
| Very little natural resistance |
The wood will not withstand exterior exposure unless pre-treated with a preservative. It is not susceptible to Lyctus attack
Weathering
| Good |
Odor
The wood has a caramel-like odor
Toxicity
| Some toxic effects |
Drying Defects
| Checking | ||||||||||||
| Discoloration | ||||||||||||
| Distortion |
Ease of Drying
| Fairly Easy | ||||||||||||
| Rapidly |
Kiln Drying Rate
| Naturally dries quickly |
Tree Size
| Bole length is 20-30 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 30-40 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 40-50 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 50-60 m | ||||||||||||
| Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm |
Blunting Effect
| High to severe | ||||||||||||
| Little |
Boring
| Fair to good results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly easy to very easy |
Carving
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Cutting Resistance
| Easy to saw |
Gluing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Mortising
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Moulding
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Movement in Service
| Excellent Stability – Small Movement | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Stability – Medium Movement |
Nailing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
Planing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Resistance to Impregnation
| Permeable sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Resistant heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Resistant sapwood |
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to Work | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work | ||||||||||||
| Responds Readily |
Routing & Recessing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Screwing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results |
Turning
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Steam Bending
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Painting
| Poor to Very Poor Results |
Polishing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Staining
| Surface Preparation | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Varnishing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Poor to Very Poor Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Surface Preparation | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Strength Properties
| Hardness = medium | ||||||||||||
| Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = high |
It resists denting and marring about as well as white oak or birch. The density is high
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 15190 | psi | |
| Crushing Strength | 1088 | psi | |
| Density | 37 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Hardness | 923 | lbs | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 4635 | 7811 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | 1975 | psi | |
| Static Bending | 8526 | psi | |
| Stiffness | 1842 | 1000 psi | |
| Toughness | 90 | inch-lbs | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 1067 | kg/cm2 | |
| Crushing Strength | 76 | kg/cm2 | |
| Density | 592 | kg/m3 | |
| Hardness | 418 | kg | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 325 | 549 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | 138 | kg/cm2 | |
| Static Bending | 599 | kg/cm2 | |
| Stiffness | 129 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
References
Bolza, E. and N. H. Kloot. 1963. The Mechanical Properties of 174 Australian Timbers. Technological Paper No. 25. Division of Forest Products, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Melbourne, Australia.
Eddowes, P. J. 1977. Commercial Timbers of Papua New Guinea – Their Properties and Uses. Forest Products Research Center, Office of Forests, Department of Primary Industry, Papua New Guinea.
Kingston, R. S. T. and C. J. E. Risdon. 1961. Shrinkage and Density of Australian and other South-west Pacific Woods. Technological Paper No. 13. Division of Forest Products, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Melbourne, Australia