Scientific Name
Agathis moorei
Trade Name
Kauri
Family Name
Araucariaceae
Common Names
Agathis, Almaciga, Bindang, Dakua makadre, Damar minyak, Kauri, Kauri pine, Menghilan, Red kaori, Tolong, White kaori
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
| Rare | ||||||||||||
| Endangered | ||||||||||||
| The future survival of this species is at risk | ||||||||||||
| Likely rare in many parts of its natural habitat | ||||||||||||
| Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center |
Scattered populations are found throughout the northern half of New Caledonia island, mostly on non-ultramafic substrates. Substantial declines have occurred through overexploitation of the timber in recent years.
Distribution Overview
Grows primarily in New Caledonia. It is a species of tropical, lowland, moist, open forest occurring on shales, sandstones, and schists up to 1000m.
Heartwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Highly variable | ||||||||||||
| Pink | ||||||||||||
| Orange | ||||||||||||
| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange | ||||||||||||
| Pale red to pink | ||||||||||||
| Dark brown | ||||||||||||
| Color varies considerably | ||||||||||||
| Brown |
It is sometimes mottled or streaked
Sapwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Color not distinct from heartwood |
Grain
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Crossed | ||||||||||||
| Irregular | ||||||||||||
| Figure | ||||||||||||
| Spiral | ||||||||||||
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Mottle |
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Spiral grain occasionally | ||||||||||||
| Mottled or streaked figure sometimes | ||||||||||||
| Irregular or uneven grain occasionally |
Texture
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Fine |
Luster
| High | ||||||||||||
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Often lustrous |
Natural Durability
| Durable |
Medium to high resistance
Odor
| No specific smell or taste |
Resin Content
| Contains resin | ||||||||||||
| Contains dammar (used in making of paint, varnish, linoleum, and turpentine) |
Kiln Schedules
| 10 – D5S (4/4) U |
Drying Defects
Seasons well without degrade
Ease of Drying
| Reconditioning Treatement | ||||||||||||
| Rapidly | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy | ||||||||||||
| Little degrade | ||||||||||||
| Little or no degrade | ||||||||||||
| Easy | ||||||||||||
| Dries at a fairly rapid rate |
Tree Size
| Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm |
The trees are capable of reaching a height of 200 feet (60 m)
Boring
| Fair to good results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly easy to very easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair results |
Carving
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Fairly difficult to carve |
Cutting Resistance
| Easy to saw | ||||||||||||
| Easy to saw |
Gluing
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Very good gluing properties |
Mortising
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Easy to mortise |
Moulding
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Excellent moulding properties |
Nailing
| Pre-Boring Recommended | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Satisfactory nailing properties | ||||||||||||
| Pre-boring recommended |
Planing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Reported to plane well, but cross grain may produce woolly surfaces.
Resistance to Impregnation
| Resistant sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Resistant heartwood |
Response to preservative treatment if rated as fair to poor.
Response to Hand Tools
| Responds Readily | ||||||||||||
| Easy to Work | ||||||||||||
| Works well with hand tools |
Routing & Recessing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Routing is easy | ||||||||||||
| Good in both routing and recessing. |
Sanding
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
The wood is fairly difficult to sand due to its resin content.
Screwing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Good screwing properties | ||||||||||||
| Good screw holding properties |
Turning
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Interlocked or cross grain | ||||||||||||
| Difficult to turn |
Painting
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Little or no surface prep required |
Polishing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Good results |
Staining
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Stains well |
Strength Properties
| Resists denting and marring | ||||||||||||
| Hardness = medium | ||||||||||||
| Density = high | ||||||||||||
| Compression strength (parallel to grain) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = high |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 7360 | 12328 | psi |
| Density | 32 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Hardness | 769 | lbs | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 3295 | 5920 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | 2136 | psi | |
| Stiffness | 1413 | 1830 | 1000 psi |
| Specific Gravity | 0.37 | ||
| Weight | 31 | 25. | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 3 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 5 | % | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 517 | 866 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | 512 | kg/m3 | |
| Hardness | 348 | kg | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 231 | 416 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | 150 | kg/cm2 | |
| Stiffness | 99 | 128 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Specific Gravity | 0.37 | ||
| Weight | 496 | 400. | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 3 | % |
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.
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
WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing – Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom