Scientific Name
Laurelia sempervirens
Trade Name
Chilean laurel
Family Name
Monimiaceae
Synonyms
Laurelia aromatica
Common Names
Chilean laurel, Huahuan, Lauel, Laurelia
Regions of Distribution
Latin America
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Chile
Common Uses
Boxes and crates, Brush backs & handles, Cabinetmaking, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Food containers, Furniture, Joinery, Moldings, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products
Environmental Profile
| Abundant/Secure | ||||||||||||
| Rare |
Heartwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Orange | ||||||||||||
| Black | ||||||||||||
| Purple | ||||||||||||
| Pink | ||||||||||||
| Green/grey | ||||||||||||
| Purple | ||||||||||||
| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange | ||||||||||||
| Greenish to greyish | ||||||||||||
| Brown |
Sapwood Color
| Green/Grey | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Different than heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Color not distinct from heartwood |
Grain
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Figure | ||||||||||||
| Weak (figure) |
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Weak figure |
Texture
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Close | ||||||||||||
| Coarse | ||||||||||||
| Fine to medium | ||||||||||||
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Fine |
Luster
| Low | ||||||||||||
| Lustrous | ||||||||||||
| Slightly lustrous |
Natural Durability
| Durable | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to marine borers | ||||||||||||
| Moderately durable | ||||||||||||
| Very durable | ||||||||||||
| Perishable | ||||||||||||
| Non-durable | ||||||||||||
| Non durable | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to attack from marine borers | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles | ||||||||||||
| Perishable |
Silica Content
| High |
Kiln Schedules
| Drying (speed) is fast | ||||||||||||
| Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid |
Drying Defects
| Distortion | ||||||||||||
| Checking | ||||||||||||
| Splitting | ||||||||||||
| Moderate collapse and honeycombing | ||||||||||||
| Moderate twist/warp | ||||||||||||
| Moderate surface checking | ||||||||||||
| Slight twist/warp | ||||||||||||
| Slight surface checking |
Ease of Drying
| Fairly Easy | ||||||||||||
| Rapidly | ||||||||||||
| Slowly | ||||||||||||
| Moderately Difficult to Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Moderate | ||||||||||||
| Easy | ||||||||||||
| Difficult |
Kiln Drying Rate
| Naturally dries quickly | ||||||||||||
| Naturally dries at a moderate speed | ||||||||||||
| Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) |
Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is straight |
Tree Size
| Tree height is 20-30 m | ||||||||||||
| Sapwood width is 0-5 cm | ||||||||||||
| Bole length is 10-20 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 30-40 m | ||||||||||||
| Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm |
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect
| High to severe | ||||||||||||
| Blunting effect on machining is slight | ||||||||||||
| Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild |
Boring
| Fairly difficult to very difficult |
Carving
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Cutting Resistance
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw | ||||||||||||
| Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy |
Gluing
| Easy to glue |
Mortising
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Moulding
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Movement in Service
| Large |
Nailing
| Poor to Very Poor Results | ||||||||||||
| Easy to nail | ||||||||||||
| Holds nails well | ||||||||||||
| Difficult to nail | ||||||||||||
| Possible if prebored |
Planing
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Ease of planing is moderate |
Resistance to Impregnation
| Permeable sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Permeable heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Sapwood is permeable | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood is moderately resistant |
Resistance to Splitting
| Poor |
Response to Hand Tools
| Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work | ||||||||||||
| Easy to machine |
Routing & Recessing
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Screwing
| Easy to screw | ||||||||||||
| Possible if prebored |
Turning
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Steam Bending
| Moderate |
Polishing
| Satisfactory results |
Staining
| Finish is generally satisfactory |
Strength Properties
| Bending strength (MOR) = low | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = low | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = medium | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low | ||||||||||||
| Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = small | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Hardness (side grain) = very soft | ||||||||||||
| Hardness (side grain) = soft | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Volumetric = small | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = small | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = large | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = large | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 7071 | 11082 | psi |
| Density | 30 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Hardness | 657 | lbs | |
| Impact Strength | 15 | inches | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 2947 | 5044 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | 1546 | psi | |
| Stiffness | 1153 | 1346 | 1000 psi |
| Weight | 29 | 25 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 4 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 8 | % | |
| Volumetric Shrinkage | 8 | % | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 497 | 779 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | 480 | kg/m3 | |
| Hardness | 298 | kg | |
| Impact Strength | 38 | cm | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 207 | 354 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | 108 | kg/cm2 | |
| Stiffness | 81 | 94 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Weight | 464 | 400 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 4 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 8 | % |
References
Berni, C.A., Bolza, E., Christensen, F.J.,1979,South American Timbers – The Characteristics, Properties and Uses of 190,Species,C.S.I.R.O Div. Building Research
Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 2 South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series
Chilean Forestry News,1941,Propiedades Fisicas y Mecanicas de las Maderas Chilenas,Min. de Terras y Colonizacion Chile, Dept. de Bienes Nacionales (Seccion,Bosqye, 103pp
Clifford, N.,1953,Commercial Hardwoods – Their Characteristics Identification and,Utilization,Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons Ltd. London
Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London
Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO
Forests Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1956,A Handbook of Hardwoods,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research Establishment
Guyana Forest Department,1967,Recopilacion de Propiedadas mecanicas de Maderas Creciendo en,Chile,Inst. For. Chile Nota Tecnica,8
Lavers, G.M.,1983,The Strength Properties of Timber (3rd ed. revised Moore G.L.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Report (formerly Bulletin No.50)
Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press
Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press
Redding, L.W.,1971,Resistance of Timbers to Impregnation with Creosote,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Bulletin No.54 pp.43
Takahashi, A.,1975,Compilation of data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part 2,Central and South America,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No.4
Timber Development Association Ltd.,1955,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Timber Development Association Ltd.
Timber Development Association,1948,Some New Timbers and Their Uses No. 34,Timber Development Association Limited, London [TRADA]
Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition
Woods, R.P.,1949,Timbers of South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series