Name Karri (Eucalyptus diversicolor)
Type Hardwood.
Other Names Also known as Eucalyptus.
Sources Grows in south western Australia.
Appearance Interlocked grain with a moderately coarse, even texture. Reddish brown heartwood and lighter reddish brown sapwood. Quartered surfaces often have a striped figure.
Physical Props Very heavy, hard, strong, and stiff with good shock resistance, moderate decay resistance, and poor stability in service. Steam-bends moderately well.
Working Props Difficult to work with hand or machine tools due to hardness and wavy, interlocked grain. Quartersawn stock particularly difficult. Has moderate to severe blunting effect on cutting edges. Glues satisfactorily. Holds nails and screws well but pre-drilling required. Polishes easily and can be brought to an excellent finish.
Uses Used for structural components of bridges and buildings (joists, beams, rafters), ship building, furniture, cabinet fittings, flooring, agricultural implements, mine timbers, poles, plywood, and high-quality veneer.

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Name Katsura (Cercidiphyllum japonica)
Type Hardwood.
Other Names Also known as heart tree or cake tree.
Sources Grows in Japan, China and Korea.
Appearance Straight grained with fine, even texture and high luster. Light brown colored heartwood with darker brown growth rings.
Physical Props Soft and light, with low stiffness and shock resistance, medium bending and crushing strength, moderate steam bending, low decay resistance, and very good stability in use.
Working Props A joy to work with using either hand or machine tools. Nail and screw holding properties are poor but glues easily and polishes to a smooth, very nice finish.
Uses Excellent wood for carving, wood sculpture, foundry patterns, mouldings, engravings, and drawing boards. Also valued for cabinetry, furniture, interior joinery, pencils, cigar boxes, Japanese shoes (geta), plywood, and decorative veneers.

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Name Kingwood (Dalbergia cearensis)
Type Hardwood.
Other Names Also known as violete, violetta, and violet wood.
Sources Grows in Brazil.
Appearance Straight to finely roey grained with a fine, uniform texture, and bright luster. Rich, violet-brown heartwood streaked with golden yellow lines of varying darkness. Cream-colored sapwood.
Physical Props Very heavy, hard, strong and brittle with good decay resistance and stability in use.
Working Props Works well (with sharp tools!) and pre-drilling required for screwing or nailing. Care needed in gluing due to waxy surface. Finishes to an exceptionally smooth, naturally waxy finish and develops a metallic sheen over time. In great demand for restoration and reproduction of antique furniture.
Uses Small size of tree and scarcity of supply generally restricts most uses to inlays, marquetry, turned articles, and sculpture.

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