Huon Pine

Huon Pine is the prince of Tasmanian timbers. The richness of its golden colour and figure make it one of the world’s most desirable furniture and veneering timbers.

Huon Pine is the prince of Tasmanian timbers. The richness of its golden colour and figure make it one of the world’s most desirable furniture and veneering timbers. Its durability and workability make it one of the best boat-building timbers known. The wood contains a natural preserving oil with an unmistakable perfume, and its fine and even grain make the wood exceptionally easy to work with hand tools.

The ‘Piners’, early timber getters, searched the inhospitable wilderness of Tasmania’s West Coast to cut and haul out Huon Pine logs. The timber was used for everything where durability and ease of working were required; in furniture and tables, in washtubs and ships and in machinery and patterns for casting.

Huon Pine Products & Applications

Quality assured Huon Pine products are available from these suppliers:

The Tasmanian Timber Quality Assurance Program assesses nominated products for Australian Standards compliance through a quarterly mill audit. Buyers can trust that the guaranteed products from our suppliers come from a company that employs sustainable practices, holds Chain-of-Custody, and Responsible Wood accreditation.

Huon Pine Properties

Lagarostrobos franklinii (formerly Dacrydium franklinii)

For further information click tables marked  

Availability & Appearance
General Availability
Very rare. Only a limited amount is released onto the market each year.
Appearance Grade
Available
Plantation
Not available
Structural Grade
Not available
Veneer
Very limited (mainly decorative thicknesses)
Sizes
Undressed seasoned timber 25 to 350 mm wide by 25 to 50 mm thick. Lengths up to 5400 mm long are available.
Colour
Light straw, ageing to dull yellow.
Grain
Straight fine and even, sometimes with birds-eye figuring. Growth rings are conspicuous and usually wavy.
Texture
Close, uniform and smooth.
Density  
Unseasoned
Seasoned
Density (per standard)
950 kg/m3
550 kg/m3
Durability  
Above-Ground
Class 3
In-Ground
Class 3
Susceptible to Lyctid Borer
No
Marine Borer Resistance
0-20 yrs
Termite Resistant
Yes
Environmental Details
Resource
Native - Rainforest
Reserves
85% of total Huon Pine forest types are reserved.
Certification
Available
Chain of Custody
Available
Carbon Storage
242 kg/m3
R Values
0.74 (100mm)
Fire Properties  
Average Specific Extinction Area
m2/kg
Bushfire Resistance
Critical Radiance Flux - Higher
kW/m2
Critical Radiance Flux - Lower
kW/m2
Smoke Development Rate
% per min
EFH Ignitibility: 1
EFH Smoke-Develop Index: 1
EFH Spread-of-Flame Index: 1
Fire Properties Group Number: 1
Joint  
Unseasoned
Seasoned
Joint Group
J4
JD4
Mechanical Properties  
Unseasoned
Seasoned
Hardness (Janka)
kN
kN
Impact
J
J
Maximum Crushing Strength
MPa
MPa
Modulus of Elasticity (MOE)
GPa
GPa
Modulus of Rupture (MOR)
MPa
MPa
Toughness (IZOD)
Nm
Nm
Movement  
Radial
0.14% per 1% MC change
Tangential
0.27% per 1% MC change
Shrinkage  
Radial
2.5%
Tangential
3.5%
Stress  
Unseasoned
Seasoned
Common Structural Grades
Not Available
Not Available
Structural Grades
F7-F14
F4-F8
Strength  
Unseasoned
Seasoned
Strength Group
S6
SD6
Workability
General Workability
Very easily worked, may be highly polished and is a very good bending timber.
Bending
Very good to fair bending timber. 25mm material bends fairly well to a radius of 50mm.
Blunting
Slight
Boring
Easy to drill. Holes are clean and to size.
Finishing
Good results can be obtained. Use of some finishes may require washing with an organic solvent to remove some of the natural oils.
Gluing
Difficulties can arise due to the presence of natural oils. Preparation may require washing with an organic solvent. Formaldehyde glues usually give the best results; other may have problems.
Moulding
Produces excellent mouldings.
Nailing
Nails hold fairly well, except on end grain where timber can tend to split.
Planing
Low feeding forces required. Surfaces very smooth and lustrous.
Rebating + Mortising
Generally produces good results.
Sawing
Cuts cleanly and accurately with low feeding force.
Turning
An exceptional turning timber.

Sources: Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood (CSAW), Wood Solutions

The Tasmanian Timber Expert Helpline is a free service operated by the Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood at the University of Tasmania; providing advice on choosing the right timber, obtaining quotes from suppliers, and troubleshooting problems.

Call the Helpline 1300 041 766

Huon Pine Brochures and Technical Documents

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