 Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata)
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Common Name(s): Jarrah Scientific Name: Eucalyptus marginata Distribution: Australia Tree Size: 130 ft (40 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter Average Dried Weight: 54 lbs/ft3 (860 kg/m3) Hardness: 1,920 lbf (8,520 N) Rupture Strength: 16,200 lbf/in2 (111,720 kPa) Elastic Strength: 1,880,000 lbf/in2 (12,970 MPa) Crushing Strength: 8,870 lbf/in2 (61.2 MPa) Shrinkage: Radial: 4.6%, Tangential: 6.6%, Volumetric: 11.2%, T/R Ratio: 1.4 |
Color/Appearance: Color ranges to a light red or brown to a darker brick red. Color tends to darken with exposure to light.
Grain/Pore: Jarrah has a medium to coarse texture with open pores. Grain tends to be interlocked or wavy. Some boards can contain gum pockets or streaks as a naturally-occurring defect. Jarrah can also exhibit a curly figure.
Endgrain: Diffuse-porous; medium pores arranged in diagonal rows; exclusively solitary; tyloses common; growth rings indistinct; rays not visible without lens; parenchyma vasicentric.
Durability: Jarrah is rated as very durable regarding decay resistance, and it is also quite resistant to insect attack.
Workability: Jarrah tends to be difficult to machine on account of its high density and interlocked grain. Jarrah also has a moderate blunting effect on cutting edges. Jarrah turns, glues, and finishes well.
Scent: There is no characteristic odor associated with this wood species.
Safety: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Jarrah has been reported to cause eye and/or respiratory irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.
Price/Availability: Jarrah is a widely distributed timber throughout southwest Australia, and prices for local lumber should be moderate. Prices for imported Jarrah tends to be in the mid range for exotic lumber. Curly pieces, or burl block are likely to be much more expensive.
Comments: Because of its great durability and common occurrence, Jarrah is a useful timber for exterior projects in Australia. Its vibrant red color, and high density add to its marketability for use as a flooring material. Jarrah burl is also prized among wood turners, with its tight knots, swirling grain, and rich colors giving an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
Some common uses for Jarrah include: flooring, heavy construction, veneer, cabinetry, outdoor furniture, and turned objects.
Scans/Pictures: A special thanks to Steve Earis for providing the wood sample and turned photo of this wood species.
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Jarrah (sanded) |
 Jarrah (sealed) |
 Jarrah (endgrain) |
 Jarrah (endgrain 10x) |
 Jarrah (turned) |
September 21st, 2011 at 11:33 am
I have a piece of hardwood that looks a lot like Jarrah or a rare piece of mahogany. It has an oily finish to it, similar to teak but with out the rubbery smell. Any body know what it might be?
thankyou Ryan, Ohio
September 22nd, 2011 at 3:09 pm
Ryan,
Take a clean slice with a miter saw off the endgrain of the board in question, and then clean it up with some very fine grit sandpaper and take a look under a magnifying glass. It should be easy to rule out Jarrah: the pores would be arranged in zig-zag diagonal rows, as pictured above, which is not found in Mahogany.