NEW GUINEA TEAK Vitex cofassus  

USES

Flooring & staircase materials. Exterior joinery; including posts, poles, decking, gazebos, pergolas. Furniture; including outdoor garden furniture. Boat building: including ribs, planking, decking. Engineering: including wharves, bridges. Building Construction (F27).

● Vitex produces a beautiful olive-grey wood with an attractive banded or striped pattern on quarter-sawn faces. Often referred to as New Guinea teak, having similar properties and uses to that of teak (Tectona grandis), and belonging to the same family of Verbenaceae.

● The timber seasons very slowly with little degrade. Quarter-sawing is preferable for drying and a variety of end uses as well as for aesthetic reasons. Vitex is also a suitable substitute for Afrormosia

● An extremely popular timber, held in high regard for boat-building due to its durability, strength, excellent steam bending and working properties. Suitable for high quality joinery, flooring, decking, window sills, staircase materials and carving.

P RO P E R T I E S

Density 700 – 800kg/m3 @12% m.c Colour Pale yellowish-brown to greyish, olive-brown. Texture Fine and even; slightly lustrous. Grain Sometimes straight but usually interlocked. Figure Distinct striped or ribbon figure on quarter sawn faces. Durability Durable. Permeability Heartwood, impermeable to pressure impregnation. Lyctid susceptibility Resistant.

WO R K A B I L I T Y

General Good working and finishing properties, where there are no grain irregularities. Sawing Readily sawn. Planing Good planing characteristics with the grain. Blunting Low. Boring Excellent characteristics. Turning Very good characteristics finishing with sharp arrises. Nailing Nails well, pre-drilling advisable to prevent splitting on board ends. Gluing Care required due to natural greasiness of wood. Finishing Works and sands to a smooth finish; takes an excellent polish.

M E C H A N I C A L P R O P E R T I E S

Strength SD3 (seasoned). Structural Grade F27 (select grade). Toughness (Izod) 7.3J (seasoned), 15J (unseasoned). Hardness (Janka) 5.6kN (seasoned), 5.1kN (unseasoned). Max. Crushing Strength 64 MPa (seasoned), 42 MPa (unseasoned). Modulus of Elasticity 14 GPa (seasoned), 12 GPa (unseasoned). Modulus of Rupture 133 MPa (seasoned), 80 MPa (unseasoned).

S E A S O N I N G

General Seasons slowly, but well, with little degrade. Preferable to preliminary air dry prior to kiln drying. A high humidity equalizing treatment should be applied at end of drying cycle. Movement Medium. Shrinkage Medium.