Blue gum
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Common Name(s): Blue Gum, Tasmanian Blue Gum Scientific Name: Eucalyptus globulus Distribution: Tasmania and southern Australia; also widely grown on plantations in subtropical regions Tree Size: 100-180 ft (30-55 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter Average Dried Weight: 51 lbs/ft3 (820 kg/m3) Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .68, .82 Janka Hardness: 2,370 lbf (10,550 N) Modulus of Rupture: 19,530 lbf/in2 (134.7 MPa) Elastic Modulus: 2,720,000 lbf/in2 (18.76 GPa) Crushing Strength: 11,160 lbf/in2 (76.9 MPa) Shrinkage: Radial: 6.8%, Tangential: 12.8%, Volumetric: 19.7%, T/R Ratio: 1.9 |
Color/Appearance: Heartwood is a light yellowish brown. Narrow sapwood is a pale gray/white. Boards with mottled figure are sometimes seen, as well as solid burl sections and veneer.
Grain/Texture: Grain is interlocked, with a uniform medium to coarse texture. Low natural luster.
Endgrain: Diffuse-porous; exclusively solitary; large to very large pores in radial/diagonal arrangement, very few; tyloses occasionally present; parenchyma vasicentric; narrow rays not visible without lens, spacing fairly close.
Rot Resistance: Rated as moderately durable, though susceptible to insect attack.
Workability: Gives moderately good results with hand and machine tools, though boards with interlocked grain (especially on quartersawn surfaces) frequently causes tearout during planing and other surfacing operations. Blue Gum tends to have many internal stresses and drying difficulties, and also has a large amount of movement in service, which excludes it from being used in applications where stability is important. Glues and finishes well.
Odor: No characteristic odor.
Allergies/Toxicity: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Blue Gum has been reported to cause skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.
