Appearance of White Mahogany Timber
White Mahogany is a visually appealing timber with heartwood that ranges from light brown to yellow-brown, resembling the soft tones of tallowwood. Its sapwood is uniformly creamy brown, lighter in tone than the heartwood, and generally less than 20mm wide. The timber has a medium, uniform texture and may feature interlocked grain, along with occasional markings from moth grub holes and gum veins. Its slightly greasy feel aids machining, though it is not as greasy as similar species like spotted gum or tallowwood.
Applications of White Mahogany Timber
White Mahogany is highly versatile and well-suited for a wide range of applications. Structurally, it is used in heavy-duty projects such as wharf and bridge construction, railway sleepers, cross-arms, mining timbers, and poles. It is also a popular choice for general house framing, cladding, linings, decking, flooring, and fencing. Its hardness and durability make it ideal for internal and external flooring, landscaping, and retaining walls. White Mahogany is frequently employed in boat building, coach and vehicle construction, agricultural machinery, and the manufacture of veneer and plywood. It is also favored for outdoor furniture due to its resistance to dents and harsh environmental conditions.
Workability of White Mahogany Timber
White Mahogany machines exceptionally well, thanks to its natural greasiness, which facilitates smooth cutting and boring. While challenging to work with hand tools due to its hardness, it accepts nails, screws, and standard fittings without issue. Surface preparation and machining should be performed immediately before gluing to ensure optimal results. The sapwood readily accepts preservatives, though the dense heartwood resists commercial preservative treatments. It finishes beautifully, taking paint, stain, and polish with ease, making it a practical choice for both structural and decorative applications.
Durability and Maintenance of White Mahogany Timber
This timber is naturally termite-resistant and durable, making it suitable for both protected and unprotected outdoor applications. Its dense heartwood resists decay and provides longevity in demanding environments, while the sapwood can be treated to extend its lifespan in vulnerable applications.
Origin and Availability of White Mahogany Timber
White Mahogany is native to New South Wales and Queensland, where it is an important commercial species. Its wide availability and versatility ensure it remains a valuable resource for both residential and industrial projects.
Very Low | Low | Medium | High | Very High | |
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Tangential : | 5.40% | ||||
Radial : | 2.80% | ||||
Unit Movement Tangential: | |||||
Unit Movement Radial: |
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: | F27 | F17 | F14 | F11 | F8 |
Seasoned: | F27 | F22 | F17 | F14 | F11 |
Seasoned: | 950kg/m3 |
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Unseasoned: | 1150kg/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: | 101 MPa |
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Modulus of Rupture - Seasoned: | 130 MPa |
Modulus of Elasticity - Unseasoned: | 16 GPa |
Modulus of Elasticity - Seasoned: | 17 GPa |
Maximum Crushing Strength - Unseasoned: | 49 MPa |
Maximum Crushing Strength - Seasoned: | 76 MPa |
Impact - Unseasoned: | 17 J |
Impact - Seasoned: | 14 J |
Toughness - Unseasoned: | Medium - 15 - 24 Nm |
Toughness - Seasoned: | Medium - 15 - 24 Nm |
Hardness - Unseasoned: | 8.9 |
Hardness - Seasoned: | 10 |
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: | Not Susceptible |
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Lyctid Borer Susceptibility - Other: | |
Termite Resistance: | Resistant |
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
EFH Spread-of-Flame Index: | |||||||||||
EFH Smoke-Developed Index: |
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 |
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Average Specific Extinction Area: | <250 |
Bushfire Resistance: | BAL 12.5 and 19 – All AS3959 required applications |