Common Names:   Silky oak Australian silky-oak Lacewood Northern silky oak Queensland silky oak Selano Purchase Lacewood

Mechanical Values

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

Distribution
The species is reported to be native to Queensland, Australia, especially in the northern coastal areas.

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

Supplies are reported to be adequate for local consumption in Australia, but high shipping costs limit its availability on the U.S. and European markets. When available, they are reported to be often sold in 1 inch (2.54 cm) thicknesses by 14 feet (4 m) lengths at very high prices.

Tree Data
The tree is reported to be tall and straight, attaining heights from 100 to 120 feet (30 to 36 m), and trunk diameters of up to 48 inches (120 cm).

Sapwood Color
The narrow sapwood is almost white in color.

Heartwood Color
The heartwood is pink to reddish brown, or pale pink to medium brown when freshly cut. It matures to a brownish color with age.

Grain
The grain is generally straight. Large and prominent wood rays are reported to produce a distinct and an attractive silver grain figure on quartersawn surfaces. 

Texture
The wood has a coarse and even texture. 

Luster
The wood is lustrous.

Odor
The wood has no characteristic odor or taste.

Ease of Drying
The wood is reported to dry slowly and can potentially be difficult to season. Careful air-drying followed by a mild kiln schedule is suggested to prevent or minimize degrade.

Drying Defects
Slight distortion, some surface checking, and splitting in thicker stock are some common drying defects. Wide flat sawn material may cup severely if unrestrained.

Kiln Schedules
T3 - C2 (4/4); T3 - C1 (8/4) US

Movement in Service
The timber is reported to be moderately stable after seasoning, and tends to exhibit medium movement in use.

Natural Durability
Heartwood resistance to decay is rated as fair. Freshly sawn timber is reported to be vulnerable to attack by pinhole borers.

Resistance to Impregnation
The heartwood is reported to be moderately resistant to chemical treatment but the sapwood is permeable.

Resistance to Abrasion
High resistance to wear is reported to make Silkywood a suitable timber for flooring in heavy traffic areas.

Gum Content
A reddish gum and white deposits are present in the wood.

Toxic Constituents
Green wood and sawdust from machining operations have been associated with skin irritation in some individuals. 

Cutting Resistance
Cutting resistance is reported to be low but large ray cells may cause some crumbling.

Blunting Effect
The wood has medium blunting effect on cutting tools. 

Planing
The timber is reported to be easy to plane but sharp cutters and a reduced cutting angle of 20 degrees are recommended for best planing results. Quartersawn material may cause some picking up in planing if cutters are not very sharp.

Turning
The material is reported to respond readily to ordinary tools in turning, moulding, mortising, boring, and routing operations with very good results. Large rays may cause the wood to crumble, and care is required to achieve smooth, non-fuzzy surfaces.

Moulding
A reduced cutting angle of 20 degrees is recommended for moulding.

Gluing
The wood is reported to possess satisfactory gluing properties.

Nailing
The wood can be nailed very easily. No pre-boring required. 

Screwing
The timber is reported to screw well.

Sanding
Sanding properties are reported to be good.

Polishing
The material is reported to have good polishing properties.

Staining
The material is reported to stain readily.

Steam Bending
This species is characterized by good steam bending properties. 

Response to Hand Tools
The timber is reported to respond rather well to hand tools in most operations.

Strength Properties
The bending strength of the species is considered medium, being much weaker than White oak or Teak in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content). Compression strength parallel to grain, or maximum crushing strength, is medium. It is lower in this property than Teak. The weight is moderate. The density is high. 

Comments
Silky oak has a striking figure, varying from a small lacelike pattern to a large splashlike figure. It is reported to be light and soft, yet firm, strong and tough. The timber is reported to be popular as a highly ornamental wood, and is used for furniture, paneling, and similar decorative uses.