Wood Facts A Series Friday

[Dawie]

A lot of information today. It's all about weight.
David

The lightest wood in the world or on earth is Southeast Asain Indian Sola Wood {Aeschynomene aspera} Its average weight/density/specific gravity is .04.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TaV66azxY2c/Sr8usX-Jp0I/AAAAAAAALOI/-jmJY67veCg/s1600-h/basket.jpg
The heaviest wood in the world or on earth is Australian Waddy Wood {Acacia peuce}. Its average weight/density/specific gravity is 1.43.
http://www.carters.com.au/index.cfm/item/113445-three-aboriginal-nulla-nulla-waddy-clubs-carved-in-longitudinal/

Note: There is a piece of Suriname Snakewood {Piratinera guianensis} that tests out having a weight/density/specific gravity of 1.43.
http://www.butterfieldlutes.com/files/snakewood.jpg

The lightest American wood is Paulownia {Paulownia elongata}. Its average weight/density/specific gravity is .26. It is native to Georgia.
http://olosurfer-woodensurfboardsatpipeline.blogspot.com/2009/07/resolute-salmon-12-foot-paulownia-wood.html

The heaviest American wood is Lignum Vitae Holywood {Guaiacum sanctum}. Its average weight/density/specific gravity is 1.33. It is native to southern Florida.
http://wapedia.mobi/en/Lignum_vitae

Not all species of wood floats in water. In order to sink in water the wood has to be heavier than water with a weight/density/specific gravity of more than 1.00. Listed below are some of the world's heaviest woods.


"Note"

With wood/lumber as a general rule the more it weighs, the denser it is and the higher specific gravity it has the harder it is. Weight/density/specific gravity and hardness with some wood/lumber species are different.

Wood/lumber species that are oily are not as hard sometimes as the weight/density/specific gravity indicates they are. This is because the oil mixed in with the wood fibers makes the wood heavy but yet in a compression test such as Janka makes the wood softer. An example would be Waddy Wood {Acacia peuce}, its average specific gravity is 1.43 but it only has a Janka Hardness of 4500 the same as Lignum Vitae {Guaiacum officinale}.

Wood/lumber species that have more lignum cells sometimes are harder than the weight/density/specific gravity indicates they are. An example would be Belah {Casuarina cristata}, its average specific gravity is only 1.15 but it has a Janka Hardness of 4500 just as hard as Lignum Vitae {Guaiacum officinale}.

Click Here To View The Janka Hardness Scale/Chart
Of The World's Top 125 Known Hardest & Softest
Woods Listed In Order Of Hardest & Softest

Some Of The World's Heaviest Woods
Woods That Sink In Water
Kiln Dried 12% Moisture Content

1.43 - Average Specific Gravity - Waddy Wood {Acacia peuce}
1.39 - Average Specific Gravity - Red Bauhinia {Lysiphyllum carronii}
1.35 - Average Specific Gravity - Cocuswood {Brya ebenus}
1.35 - Average Specific Gravity - Lignum Vitae - {Guaiacum officinale}
1.35 - Average Specific Gravity - Lignum Vitae Holywood - {Guaiacum sanctum}
1.35 - Average Specific Gravity - Tiga {Tristania decorticata}
1.32 - Average Specific Gravity - Jutahy - {Dialium guianense}
1.32 - Average Specific Gravity - Snakewood Australian {Acacia xiphophylla}
1.31 - Average Specific Gravity - Ebony Brown - {Libidibia paraguariensis}
1.30 - Average Specific Gravity - Ebony Red - {Erythrophleum chlorostachys}
1.30 - Average Specific Gravity - Snakewood - {Piratinera guianensis}
1.29 - Average Specific Gravity - Leadwood - {Krugiodendron ferreum}
1.28 - Average Specific Gravity - Verawood - {Bulnesia arborea}
1.28 - Average Specific Gravity - Womara - {Swartzia leiocalycina}
1.27 - Average Specific Gravity - Bara?na - {Schinopsis brasiliensis/glabra}
1.26 - Average Specific Gravity - Quebracho - {Schinopsis balansae}
1.25 - Average Specific Gravity - Ebony Brazilian - {Swartzia tomentosa}
1.25 - Average Specific Gravity - Gidgee - {Acacia cambagei}
1.24 - Average Specific Gravity - Tubi - Blackwood Solomon - {Xanthostemon melanoxylon}
1.23 - Average Specific Gravity - Wawra - {Combretum imberbe}
1.22 - Average Specific Gravity - Brazilwood - {Caesalpinia echinata}
1.21 - Average Specific Gravity - Knob Thorn - {Acacia nigrescens}
1.20 - Average Specific Gravity- Belian - {Eusideroxylon zwageri}
1.20 - Average Specific Gravity - Blackwood African - {Dalbergia melanoxylon}
1.20 - Average Specific Gravity - Rosewood Kingwood - {Dalbergia cearensis}
1.18 - Average Specific Gravity - Jar?na - {Holopyxidium jarana}
1.15 - Average Specific Gravity - Belah - {Casuarina cristata}
1.15 - Average Specific Gravity - Wattle Australian Ironwood {Acacia excelsa}
1.13 - Average Specific Gravity - Box Grey - {Eucalyptus microcarpa}
1.13 - Average Specific Gravity - Mallet Brown - {Eucalyptus astringens}
1.13 - Average Specific Gravity - Sonoran Desert Ironwood - {Olneya tesota}
1.13 - Average Specific Gravity - Wandoo - {Eucalyptus wandoo}
1.12 - Average Specific Gravity - Azobe - {Lophira alata}
1.12 - Average Specific Gravity - Curupay - {Piptadenia macrocarpa}
1.12 - Average Specific Gravity - Mahogany Mountain - {Cercocarpus ledifolius}
1.12 - Average Specific Gravity - Olivewood Brazilian - {Ferreirea spectabilis}
1.11 - Average Specific Gravity - African Black Ironwood - {Olea laurifolia}
1.11 - Average Specific Gravity - Rosewood Cocobolo - {Dalbergia retusa}

[Marcellarius]

this is 'heavy stuff" dude......

.

[Mainewoods]

I've got to ask about the Paulownia wood.  Is this stuff only carried at Paul's (Grampa's) lumber yard?!  i.e. Paul-own-ia?  Just wonderin'!

[Dawie]

Never would have come up with that one myself nice Mainewoods. Maybe we should get over to the UK and see if he has some.
David