Brushbox

Scientific name:
Tristania conferta R.Br.

Other Common Names:
Pelawan Pelawan (Sabah)
Keruntum
Pelawan (Malaya)
Selunsur
Melaban (Sarawak)
Malabayabas (Philippines)

The origin of Brushbox is from Australia. The sapwood of brushbox is a pale greyish brown, while the heartwood grades from a reddish to pinkish brown. The grain is curly & interlocked and the wood is even in texture. Its texture is reported very fine grain, even texture, hard, very dense. This species has a glazed appearance.

Weight:
Basic specific gravity (ovendry weight/green volume) variable with species 0.70 to 0.90; air-dry density 55 to 70 pcf.

Uses:
Flooring, pallets, heavy construction, specialty items (pulleys, rollers, bearings, sheaves, tool handles).

General Characteristics:
Heartwood pink brown, gray brown, red brown, or dark red; sapwood pink or red brown, lighter than the heartwood, but not always sharply demarcated. Texture medium to fine; The grain is curly & interlocked, sometimes wavy; somewhat lustrous; without characteristic odor or taste and the wood is even in texture. This species has a glossy appearance.

Working Properties:
Brushbox can be reasonably hard to saw properly and machine because of high density, cutters might dull quickly (silica substance 0.04 to 0.22% but values as high as 3.4% are reported); dresses to a smooth surface; turns excellently. Nailing can be difficult in this species, and as such should be pre-bored before installation.

Drying and Shrinkage:
Very difficult to season, prone to warping, checking, and collapse; air drying is suggested prior to kiln drying. Kiln schedule T3-C2 is suggested for 4/4 stock and T3-C1 for 8/4. Shrinkage green to ovendry: radial 5.0% tangential 9.5% and may be considerably higher when collapse is present.

Durability:
Heartwood mostly reported to be resistant to attack by decay fungi and termites. The wood is described to have no noticable odor. Brushbox requires some care in drying as warping or checking has been reported to occur when ample time is not acquired for the process

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