Scientific Name
Agathis philippinensis
Trade Name
Almaciga
Family Name
Araucariaceae
Common Names
Almaciga, Bindang, Dakua makadre, Damar minyak, Kauri, Kauri pine, Menghilan, Tolong
Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines
Common Uses
Barrels, Boat building, Building construction, Canoes, Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Figured veneer, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Interior construction, Interior trim, Lifeboats, Millwork, Plain veneer, Roofing, Shakes, Sheathing, Shingles, Siding, Vats, Veneer
Environmental Profile
| Vulnerable |
This species is officially classified as Endangered or Vulnerable within its natural habitat in the Philippines (Source – World Conservation Monitoring Center – 1992 )
Distribution Overview
This species is endemic to the Phillipines (Mindoro, Luzon, Mindanao). It grows in forests and on coral limestone in some places.
Heartwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| White | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Tan | ||||||||||||
| Yellowish tan | ||||||||||||
| White to cream | ||||||||||||
| Reddish brown | ||||||||||||
| Golden brown with a reddish cast |
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 | ||||||||||||
| Lustrous |
Natural Durability
| Perishable | ||||||||||||
| Non-durable | ||||||||||||
| Non-resistant to termites | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to termite attack | ||||||||||||
| Non durable |
Vulnerable to blue stain
Odor
| No specific smell or taste |
Resin Content
| Discharges sticky resin when bark is cut | ||||||||||||
| Contains resin |
Kiln Schedules
| T10 – D5S (4/4); T8 – D4S (8/4) US/T10 – D5S (4/4); T8 – D4S (8/4) US |
Ease of Drying
| Reconditioning Treatement | ||||||||||||
| Little degrade | ||||||||||||
| Little degrade if dried properly | ||||||||||||
| Dries well under good controlled conditions |
Tree Size
| Bole length is 10-20 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 50-60 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 60-70 m |
Blunting Effect
| Moderate | ||||||||||||
| Blunting effect on machining is moderate |
Boring
| Fairly easy to very easy |
Carving
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Easy to carve |
Cutting Resistance
| Easy to saw | ||||||||||||
| Low resistance to sawing |
Gluing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Glues well |
Mortising
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Moulding
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Nailing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Holds nails well | ||||||||||||
| Easy to nail |
Planing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Good planing properties |
Resistance to Impregnation
| Resistant sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Resistant heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Sapwood has low permeability | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood is resistant |
Response to Hand Tools
| Responds Readily | ||||||||||||
| Responds well to hand tools |
Routing & Recessing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Routing yields good results | ||||||||||||
| Routing is easy |
Sanding
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Easy to sand |
Screwing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Screwing yields good results | ||||||||||||
| Easy to screw |
Veneering Qualities
| Suitable for peeling | ||||||||||||
| Veneers moderately easy | ||||||||||||
| Veneers easily | ||||||||||||
| Suitable for peeling |
Painting
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Little or no surface prep required | ||||||||||||
| Good results |
Polishing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Good results |
Staining
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Stains well |
Strength Properties
| Crushing strength = medium | ||||||||||||
| Compression strength (parallel to grain) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = high |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 6343 | 11870 | psi |
| Crushing Strength | 435 | 915 | psi |
| Hardness | 684 | lbs | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 2851 | 5792 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | 1397 | psi | |
| Static Bending | 3665 | 7485 | psi |
| Stiffness | 1346 | 1638 | 1000 psi |
| Toughness | 171 | inch-lbs | |
| Specific Gravity | 0.36 | 0.33 | |
| Weight | 48 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 445 | 834 | kg/cm2 |
| Crushing Strength | 30 | 64 | kg/cm2 |
| Hardness | 310 | kg | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 200 | 407 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | 98 | kg/cm2 | |
| Static Bending | 257 | 526 | kg/cm2 |
| Stiffness | 94 | 115 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Toughness | 196 | cm-kg | |
| Specific Gravity | 0.36 | 0.33 |
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.
Desch, H. E. 1954. Manual of Malayan Timbers – Volume II. Malayan Forest Records, No. 15. Malaya Publishing House Ltd., Singapore.
Lauricio, F. M., Bellosillo, S. B., The Mechanical and Related Properties of Philippine Woods, The Lumberman, 12(5):A-H
WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing – Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom