Properties of Timber: Eucalyptus

The heartwood of robusta eucalyptus is light red to reddish brown in color as it comes from the saw. It darkens to reddish brown on seasoning. There is a narrow 1- to 2-inch band of sapwood coloured gray to pale brown, and the heart wood is darker.

Robusta is fairly dense. At 46 pounds per cubic foot when air-dry, it is comparable to oak and hickory. White oak is 48 pounds per cubic foot under the same conditions. The weight, as with oak, must be considered when used as a furniture wood. This does not matter so much in flooring, panelling, and some construction.

The wood has high shrinkage in drying, slightly more than any comparable mainland hardwood. If used under conditions where its moisture content remains steady, the wood is stable.

Robusta is stronger than most mainland woods of comparable density. It is about as hard as white oak. It shrinks more, but is much stiffer. It can be used in construction in smaller sizes or over longer spans than most commonly used woods.

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Picture © habitat21 website; the information is a summary of part of a research paper written in 1963 by Roger Skolmen, U.S. Forest Service, Berkeley, CA, and is acknowledged with thanks.





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