Appearance of Blackwood Timber
Blackwood’s heartwood exhibits a warm, golden-brown hue, sometimes accompanied by reddish streaks and darker bands along the growth rings. The sapwood, in contrast, is much paler and can be up to 50mm wide. With a medium, even texture, Blackwood’s grain can range from straight to a wavy, fiddleback pattern—highly prized for furniture and veneers due to its unique and attractive finish.
Common Applications of Blackwood Timber
Due to its beauty and durability, Blackwood is often used in decorative applications such as veneers, paneling, joinery, and furniture. Other common uses include flooring, carving, turning, and even boat building and gunstocks. While it is highly durable for interior applications, Blackwood is not recommended for in-ground or exterior use due to its low in-ground durability.
Workability of Blackwood Timber
Blackwood offers excellent workability, allowing for easy nailing and gluing. It sands to a smooth, polished finish, making it an ideal choice for fine furniture and detailed joinery. The wood is also well-suited to steam bending. For pieces with a wavy grain, adjusting the planer angle may be necessary to avoid tear-out. It’s important to take safety precautions when sanding Blackwood, as its dust can cause irritation.
Origin and Availability of Blackwood Timber
Kosny Timber sources Blackwood primarily from Tasmania, where it is available in commercial quantities. Blackwood is also found in other regions, although it is generally available in smaller sizes. Sustainably managed plantations ensure a steady supply of this unique, high-quality timber.
Very Low | Low | Medium | High | Very High | |
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Tangential : | 4.20% | ||||
Radial : | 1.60% | ||||
Unit Movement Tangential: | 0.27% | ||||
Unit Movement Radial: | 0.16% |
Very High | High | Reasonably High | Medium High | Medium | Reasonably Low | Low | Very Low | |
Unseasoned: | S1 | S2 | S3 | S4 | S5 | S6 | S7 | S8 |
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Seasoned: | SD1 | SD2 | SD3 | SD4 | SD5 | SD6 | SD7 | SD8 |
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Structural No. 1 | Structural No. 2 | Structural No. 3 | Structural No. 4 | Structural No. 5 | |
Unseasoned: | F14 | F11 | F8 | F7 | F5 |
Seasoned: | F22 | F17 | F14 | F11 | F8 |
Seasoned: |
650kg/m3
|
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Unseasoned: |
1050kg/m3
|
Very High | High | Reasonably High | Medium | Low | Very Low | |
Unseasoned: | J1 | J2 | J3 | J4 | J5 | J6 |
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Seasoned: | JD1 | JD2 | JD3 | JD4 | JD5 | JD6 |
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White, yellow, pale straw to light brown | Pink to pink brown | Light to dark red | Brown, chocolate, mottled or streaky | |
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Modulus of Rupture - Unseasoned: | 72 MPa |
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Modulus of Rupture - Seasoned: | 110 MPa |
Modulus of Elasticity - Unseasoned: | 12 GPa |
Modulus of Elasticity - Seasoned: | 14 GPa |
Maximum Crushing Strength - Unseasoned: | 34 MPa |
Maximum Crushing Strength - Seasoned: | 58 MPa |
Impact - Unseasoned: | 12 J |
Impact - Seasoned: | 15 J |
Toughness - Unseasoned: | Medium - 15 - 24 Nm |
Toughness - Seasoned: | Medium - 15 - 24 Nm |
Hardness - Unseasoned: | 4.2 |
Hardness - Seasoned: | 4.9 |
Low | Moderate | Reasonably High | High | |
(0 - 5 yrs) | (5 - 15 yrs) | (15 - 25 yrs) | (more than 25 yrs) | |
In-Ground: | ![]() | |||
(0 - 7 yrs) | (7 - 15 yrs) | (15 - 40 yrs) | (More than 40 yrs) | |
Above ground: | ![]() | |||
(0 - 20 yrs, usually < 5) | (21 - 40 yrs) | (41 - 64 yrs) | (More than 60 yrs) | |
Marine Borer Resistance: | ![]() |
Lyctid Borer Susceptibility: | Susceptible |
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Lyctid Borer Susceptibility - Other: | |
Termite Resistance: |
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | |
EFH Ignitibility: |
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
EFH Spread-of-Flame Index: | |||||||||||
EFH Smoke-Developed Index: |
Critical Radiance Flux - Lower: | >2.2 and <4.5 |
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Critical Radiance Flux - Higher: | ≥4.5 |
Smoke Development Rate: | <750 |
1 - non-combustible | 2 - reasonably non-combustible | 3 - slightly combustible | 4 - combustible | |
Fire Properties Group |
Average Specific Extinction Area: | <250 |
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Bushfire Resistance: | BAL 12.5 and 19 – Door and window joinery only |