Common Names:   Jarrah Purchase Jarrah

Mechanical Values

Environmental Profile
The environmental status of this species within its geographical range has not been officially assessed. 

Distribution
The species is reported to be found in a 20 mile wide region along the coastal area of southwestern Australia, extending 200 miles southward from Perth.

Product Sources
Some material from this species is reported to be available from environmentally responsible or sustainably managed sources. 

The most widely harvested of the Eucalyptus timbers, Jarrah is reported to be available on the world market at moderate prices, but it is plenttiful within its native Australia at a low price.

The following species in the database is reported to be very similar in appearance to Jarrah:
Karri (Eucalyptus diversicolor )

Tree Data
The tree is reported to attain heights of 100 to 150 feet (30 to 45 m), with trunk diameters of 36 to 72 inches (90 an 180 cm).

Sapwood Color
The sapwood is a paler version of the heartwood color, which is a uniform pink to dark red, turning to rich brown with age.

Heartwood Color
The heartwood is a rich dark brownish red, sometimes marked by short, dark brown radial flicks on the end grain and boat shaped flecks on flat sawn surfaces. Wood often has black streaks with occasional in-grown bark. Exposure changes the red color of the wood to a rich-mahogany hue. Degree of color variation between boards is reported to vary from moderate to high.

Grain
The grain is reported to be frequently interlocked or wavy. A fungus, Fistulina hepatica , is reported to cause dark brown radial flecks on end-grain and boat-shaped flecks on flat sawn surfaces. The markings are reported to enhance the appearance of the timber.

Texture
The texture is moderately coarse, and even.

Odor
There is no distinctive odor or taste.

Gum Content
Gum pockets or veins are reported to be a common defect.

Ease of Drying
The material is reported to require careful drying. Partial air-seasoning before kiln-drying has been recommended. Kiln-drying from the green condition should be done at low temperatures and high humidities.
Shrinkage from green to 12% MC
Radial - 4.6%
Tangential - 6.6%

Drying Defects
Wide stock may check and warp during drying. Collapse may also occur, but it is usually not severe.

Kiln Schedules
T3 - C2 (4/4); T3 - C1 (8/4) US
Schedule C - United Kingdom

Partial air drying with low temperatures and high humidities prior to kiln drying is suggested especially for thicker stock. 

Movement in Service
The timber is reported to exhibit medium movement after manufacture.

Natural Durability
The heartwood is rated as very durable and is resistant to attack by termites and marine borers. Sapwood is resistant to powder post beetle attack. The wood is also reported to be fire-resistant.

Resistance to Impregnation
Heartwood resistance to preservative treatment is reported to be very high. The sapwood is permeable.

Veneering Qualities
Jarrah is reported to peel and slice readily into high quality veneer.

Cutting Resistance
Cutting resistance is rated as medium because of high density and occasional interlocked or wavy grain.

Blunting Effect
Blunting effect on cutting edges is reported to be moderate.

Planing
Planing requires a reduced cutting angle of 15 degrees and sharp cutting edges to prevent grain from tearing out.

Turning
The attractive grain is reported to make the timber a popular choice as a turnery wood.

Boring
The timber is very dense, and material containing irregular grain is reported to be rather difficult to bore and work in mortising, moulding, and carving, especially with dull tools. Sharp cutters are reported to be essential to produce cleanly worked surfaces.

Gluing
Gluing characteristics are reported to be satisfactory.

Nailing
The timber is reported to be difficult to nail and requires pre-boring. Nail-holding characteristics are rated as good.

Screwing
Pre-boring is recommended.

Sanding
Sanding properties are reported to be good but sawdust may stain fabric wall finishes.

Polishing
The wood polishes very well.

Staining
The material is reported to be seldom stained because of its natural color. Mixing species may be difficult since red color may bleed into some finishes.

Varnishing
Jarrah is reported to be rarely stained but it is often finished with varnish or wax.

Steam Bending
Straight-grained material is reported to have satisfactory steam bending characteristics and can be bent to a moderate radius of curvature.

Comments
The timber is described as dense, hard and heavy, with good strength properties and high resistance to wear. It is reported to be 10 to 20 percent higher in strength properties than Oak, but is 40 to 50 percent harder.