Appearance of Mountain Gum Timber
The heartwood of Mountain Gum is a subtle pale pink or pinkish brown, with the sapwood being visually indistinct. Its straight grain and varied texture, from fine latewood to coarser earlywood, make it a visually appealing choice, especially for interior applications. The darker latewood highlights its prominent growth rings, giving it a natural charm that enhances its aesthetic appeal.
Common Applications of Mountain Gum Timber
Due to its moderate hardness and durability, Mountain Gum is suitable for general building construction, joinery, and flooring. Its strength and appearance also make it a solid choice for tool handles, although untreated sapwood is susceptible to lyctid borer attack, and the heartwood lacks termite resistance, so it is best suited for interior and non-ground-contact applications.
Workability of Mountain Gum Timber
Mountain Gum is reasonably easy to work, though occasional gum veins can affect the finish quality. Careful selection and quality control can help achieve optimal results for applications requiring a fine finish. The timber’s moderate density allows for straightforward machining, making it suitable for a variety of projects.
Origin and Availability of Mountain Gum Timber
Kosny Timber sources Mountain Gum from native forests in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and Tasmania. Commercial availability is limited, but the timber can occasionally be found across Australia through specialist suppliers.
| Very Low | Low | Medium | High | Very High | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | | ||||
| Tangential : | 11.50% | ||||
| Radial : | 5.40% | ||||
| Unit Movement Tangential: | 0.35% | ||||
| Unit Movement Radial: | 0.22% |
| Lyctid Borer Susceptibility: | Susceptible |
|---|---|
| Lyctid Borer Susceptibility - Other: | |
| Termite Resistance: | Not Resistant |
Very High | High | Reasonably High | Medium High | Medium | Reasonably Low | Low | Very Low | |
Unseasoned: | S1 | S2 | S3 | S4 | S5 | S6 | S7 | S8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||
Seasoned: | SD1 | SD2 | SD3 | SD4 | SD5 | SD6 | SD7 | SD8 |
|
| Structural No. 1 | Structural No. 2 | Structural No. 3 | Structural No. 4 | Structural No. 5 | |
| Unseasoned: | F11 | F14 | F8 | F7 | F5 |
| Seasoned: | F17 | F14 | F11 | F8 | F7 |
Seasoned: | 690kg/m3 |
|---|---|
Unseasoned: | 1150kg/m3 |
Very High | High | Reasonably High | Medium | Low | Very Low | |
Unseasoned: | J1 | J2 | J3 | J4 | J5 | J6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||
Seasoned: | JD1 | JD2 | JD3 | JD4 | JD5 | JD6 |
|
| White, yellow, pale straw to light brown | Pink to pink brown | Light to dark red | Brown, chocolate, mottled or streaky | |
| ||||
| Modulus of Rupture - Unseasoned: | 64 MPa |
|---|---|
| Modulus of Rupture - Seasoned: | 117 MPa |
| Modulus of Elasticity - Unseasoned: | 9.5 GPa |
| Modulus of Elasticity - Seasoned: | 13 GPa |
| Maximum Crushing Strength - Unseasoned: | 30 MPa |
| Maximum Crushing Strength - Seasoned: | 57 MPa |
| Impact - Unseasoned: | 16 J |
| Impact - Seasoned: | 8 J |
| Toughness - Unseasoned: | Medium - 15 - 24 Nm |
| Toughness - Seasoned: | Medium - 15 - 24 Nm |
| Hardness - Unseasoned: | 5.2 |
| Hardness - Seasoned: | 5.7 |
| 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: | |
| 1 - non-combustible | 2 - reasonably non-combustible | 3 - slightly combustible | 4 - combustible | |
Fire Properties Group |
Group Number - Other: | 3 if used on MDF or particleboard ≥12mm; veneer thickness 0.6-0.85mm |
|---|---|
Average Specific Extinction Area: | <250 |
Bushfire Resistance: | BAL 12.5 and 19 – Door and window joinery only |