Agathis - Agathis spp. Incl

Agathis is arguably one of the world’s finest quality woods. And has been a highly valued commercial timber for many years. Producing large wide boards free of defect, uniform in colour and free of tainting chemicals. Both the heartwood and sapwood are well known and highly appreciated in the timber industry.

• The timber is a pale straw-brown to a honey-brown in color often with darker streaks. A cathedral-like figure is sometimes evident on back-sawn faces and with a characteristic 'ray-fleck' pattern on quarter sawn faces.
• The timber seasons well with little degrade if drying is not too rapid, however it must be protected against blue stain. Sawn material needs to be weighted to alleviate cupping. The timber has a very low shrinkage and very little movement in-service.
• Due to the timber’s excellent working properties, ease of drying, pale uniform color and very fine and even texture, it is suitable for a wide range of uses including specialty applications. In New Zealand it has always been a popular and traditional timber for boat building including, masts, spars, oars, planking and decking due to its high degree of stability. It is also used for furniture, paneling, sarking, moldings, cabinet work and turnery.
• Its specialty applications include, musical instruments (violin and guitar bellies), pattern-making and artificial limbs. Due to its non-tainting properties it is suitable for bench tops and kitchen utensils (food preparation) and storage vats.