Radiata pine is a versatile and readily available timber, suitable for a wide variety of end-use applications.
Low level treatment such as boron is recommended to future-proof against insect attack in areas completely protected from moisture, such as furniture and the framing of internal walls of buildings. The timber is easily treated for all Hazard Class applications.
Tests have confirmed that radiata pine machines well for most applications and compares favourably with a variety of other internationally traded timbers.
The heartwood of radiata pine is an even light brown to chestnut brown in colour, the sapwood is creamy white.
Radiata pine heartwood is an even, light brown to chestnut brown colour, the sapwood is creamy white. Resin canals are present as fine brown lines in the latewood part of the growth rings, especially on radial surfaces, and these can be a handy means of identification. Texture is fine but uneven.The contrast in colour and texture between early and latewood bands (growth rings) in flat-sawn timber is relatively moderate compared with other pines and conifer species. The veneer has a moderate-to-high lustre. Common features in most Pinus species, including radiata pine, are: knots, cone stem holes and pine-needle flecks.Radata pine is a versatile and readily available timber, suitable for a wide variety of end-use applications. It produces wood that is very acceptable to the construction industry. The bark is rich in tannins and suitable for use in the manufacture of adhesives; it also contains some wax, which may have possible use in water repellents. It is suitable for framing, industrial uses, posts, cladding, decking, interior finishes and trims, and everyday furniture.Most of the wood, therefore, is easy-to-dry and easy-to-treat sapwood. This is an advantage over many Northern Hemisphere conifers, which are largely heartwood.
Low level treatment such as boron is recommended to future-proof against insect attack in areas completely protected from moisture, such as furniture and the framing of internal walls of buildings. Because radiata pine is easily treated, the timber can be obtained to give appropriate durability in any of the Hazard Classes from H1 to H6.
At 12 percent moisture content, the density of radiata pine varies from 560 kg/m3- from low-altitude growth sites from the Waikato northwards, to 460 kg/m3 in timber supplied from Otago and Southland. The average density figure for the whole country is 500 kg/m.Most of the density variation is related to the average temperature during the growing season: the cooler the site, the lower will be the wood density, hence the decrease with altitude and latitude.Please note these comparative measures of strength are “laboratory” values using standardised short lengths of clear timber.
For the properties of structural length timber please see the tables under the structural design section.
Mechanical properties vary with density, and the presence of knots, sloping grain and other natural features. For timber free of these natural features (clear wood), of average density, from trees felled at 30 years of age and the average properties measured on small specimens (20 x 20mm cross section) are:
| Modulus of elasticity | 8.23 GPa |
| Bending strength | 85.8 MPa |
| Compression strength parallel to the grain | 36.8 MPa |
| Side hardness (refers to indentation) | 3.64 kN |
| Shear strength parallel to the grain | 11.6 MPa |
| End hardness | 4.76 kN |
The most common form of machining is planing, closely followed by shaping and turning. Cross-cutting, boring, mortising and sanding are also common types of machining. A comparison with some North American species is shown in the following table:
| Species | Planing | Shaping | Turning | Sanding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radiata | Very good | Excellent | Good | Very good |
| Ponderosa pine | Fair | Excellent | Fair | Very good |
| Douglas fir | Fair | Excellent | Poor | Very good |
| Western hemlock | Poor | Good | Poor | Very good |
The corewood area – perhaps four to five growth rings in diameter from the central pith – contains low-density wood that shrinks excessively in a longitudinal direction; it also contains spiral grain, which can lead to twisting in sawn timber. The grading rules for Pinus species take this aspect into account. Less desirable features to watch for when working with this timber include:
Treated radiata pine is suitable for the following applications:
Interior uses for untreated timber include:
Gill Timbers is supplying Radiata Pine Logs in containers, bulk breaks and shiploads. To get best offer, please refer to Business Offers available. You can also contact directly to us or go to the GILL TIMBERS Forum