Scientific Name
Agathis obtusa
Trade Name
Kauri
Family Name
Araucariaceae
Common Names
Almaciga, Bindang, Dakua makadre, Damar minyak, Kauri, Kauri agathis, Kauri pine, Menghilan, Tolong
Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea
Common Uses
Bobbins, Building materials, Core Stock, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Domestic flooring, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Flooring, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Millwork, Moldings, Paneling , Parquet flooring, Picker sticks, Plain veneer, Plywood, Shade rollers, Shuttles, Specialty items, Spindles, Spools, Stencil & chisel blocks, Structural plywood, Sub-flooring, Sucker rods, Trimming, Umbrella handles , Utility plywood, Veneer, Wainscotting
Environmental Profile
| Status has not been officially assessed |
Distribution Overview
Vanuatu
Heartwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| White | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Yellowish brown | ||||||||||||
| Pale cream | ||||||||||||
| Golden brown with a reddish cast | ||||||||||||
| Dark brown |
Sapwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| White | ||||||||||||
| Color not distinct from heartwood |
Grain
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Straight |
| Generally straight, but not always |
Texture
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Even or uniform | ||||||||||||
| Uniform | ||||||||||||
| Fine |
Luster
| High | ||||||||||||
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Often lustrous |
Natural Durability
| Perishable | ||||||||||||
| Non-resistant to termites | ||||||||||||
| Non-durable | ||||||||||||
| Very little natural resistance | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to termite attack |
Prone to blue stain
Odor
| No specific smell or taste |
Resin Content
| Contains resin |
Kiln Schedules
| 10 – D5s (4/4); T8 – D4s (8/4) U |
Ease of Drying
| Reconditioning Treatement | ||||||||||||
| Little degrade | ||||||||||||
| Little or no degrade |
Tree Size
| Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm |
The trees are capable of reaching a height of 200 feet (60 m)Trunk diameter can reach 3 m
Blunting Effect
| Moderate | ||||||||||||
| Medium effect |
Boring
| Fair to good results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly easy to very easy | ||||||||||||
| Satisfactory results |
Carving
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Fairly difficult to carve |
Cutting Resistance
| Easy to saw | ||||||||||||
| Easy to saw |
Gluing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Easy to glue |
Mortising
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Good mortising properties |
Moulding
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Good moulding properties |
Nailing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Holds nails well | ||||||||||||
| Easy to nail |
Planing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Easy to plane |
Resistance to Impregnation
| Resistant sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Resistant heartwood |
Response to preservative treatment varies from fair to poor.
Response to Hand Tools
| Responds Readily | ||||||||||||
| Easy to Work | ||||||||||||
| Easy to machine |
Routing & Recessing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Routing is easy |
Sanding
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Easy to sand |
Screwing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Good screwing properties | ||||||||||||
| Good screw holding properties |
Turning
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Very good |
Painting
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Little or no surface prep required |
Polishing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Good results |
Staining
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Good staining properties |
Strength Properties
| Weight = average | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = medium | ||||||||||||
| Hardness (side grain) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Density = high | ||||||||||||
| Compression strength (parallel to grain) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = high |
Resists denting and marring about as well as white oak or birch
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 7500 | 12551 | psi |
| Density | 32 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Hardness | 769 | lbs | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 3349 | 6010 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | 2136 | psi | |
| Stiffness | 1404 | 1679 | 1000 psi |
| Specific Gravity | 0.37 | ||
| Weight | 31 | 25. | lbs/ft3 |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 527 | 882 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | 512 | kg/m3 | |
| Hardness | 348 | kg | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 235 | 422 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | 150 | kg/cm2 | |
| Stiffness | 98 | 118 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Specific Gravity | 0.37 |
References
Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Hardwoods -Temperate and Tropical. USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.
Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.