Macrocarpa

Macrocarpa has yellow-brown heartwood colour, darker in old trees, sapwood 40-50mm, is paler coloured. Air-dry density 475-485 kgm-3, wood is soft with a fragrant, spicy odour.

Other Names

Monterey cypress (USA), golden cypress (AUST), cypress macrocarpa

Botanical Name

Cupressus macrocarpa

Common Form
Sawn
Species Type
Softwood
  • Overview

    • Sapwood colour: pale yellow-brown and little different from the yellow-brown heartwood although wood from old trees tends to be darker.   

    Grain and texture: grain generally straight but can deviate considerably from stem fluting or around knots from large branches of trees grown in open grown shelter belts or plantations.  The texture is fine and even with visible growth rings.  Tissue gives the wood a lustrous appearance similar to that of hoop or kauri.   The heartwood exhibits a fragrant spicy odour or ‘pencils’ similar to that of western red cedar. 

    The species is originally from the United States of America; in Australia it was commonly used for windbreaks on Victorian farms, where it was planted around 70 to 100 years ago. Now it is increasingly available commercially.  Several small sawmilling operations in Victoria are processing the farm-sourced timber.  The tree was also introduced to New Zealand in the 1860’s, tropical Africa and Madagascar and was planted mainly in shelter belts but occasionally in plantations in New Zealand. 

    The wood is a lightweight softwood (475-485 kg/m3 at 12% MC) and is a moderately stiff, strong timber similar to NZ grown Douglas Fir, it can be difficult to kiln dry, usually exhibiting collapse and sometimes internal checking. 

    The wood saws and works easily owing to its fine texture.  It holds nails well and the gluing and painting properties are good.   It is one of the most naturally durable exotic softwoods grown in New Zealand, and is resistant to insect and borer attack in sawn form.  The heartwood is rated moderately durable (Class 3) in ground which means that a 50x50 stake will last 10-15 years. Larger sections will last longer.  Above ground it is regarded as equivalent to H3 pine. It is reportedly, naturally, termite-resistant (http://www.jedwoodtimber.com.au/cypress.html) although no published test data is available.

    Shrinkage

    Very Low Low Medium High Very High
    Check mark Check mark

    Tangential : Provides a simplified rating for tangential shrinkage. This is the measure of the percentage reduction in dimension from the unseasoned to 12% moisture content condition.
    3.30%

    Radial : Radial shrinkage is perpendicular to the growth rings. It is shrinkage in the direction towards the centre of the tree. Measurement is % value
    1.60%

    Unit Movement Tangential: This is the percentage of dimensional change for each 1% moisture content change between about 3% moisture content and the fibre saturation point for the particular species.
    0.25%

    Unit Movement Radial: This is the percentage of dimensional change for each 1% moisture content change between about 3% moisture content and the fibre saturation point for the particular species.
    0.12%

    Strength Group Strength groups are given for unseasoned (S1-S7) and seasoned (SD1-SD8) timber in accordance with AS 2878. S1 and SD1 yield the highest strength and stiffness whereas S7 and SD8 yield the lowest.

    Very High

    High

    Reasonably High

    Medium High

    Medium

    Reasonably Low

    Low

    Very Low

    Unseasoned:

    S1

    S2

    S3

    S4

    S5

    S6

    S7

    S8

    Seasoned:

    SD1

    SD2

    SD3

    SD4

    SD5

    SD6

    SD7

    SD8

    Stress Grade A stress grade is defined in AS 1720 as the classification of timber for structural purposes by means of either visual or machine grading. The stress grade indicates the basic working stresses and stiffnesses to be used for structural design purposes. Measured in MPa.

    Structural
    No. 1    		 Structural
    No. 2    		 Structural
    No. 3    		 Structural
    No. 4    		 Structural
    No. 5

    Unseasoned:

    Seasoned:

    Density per Standard Seasoned density is based on moisture content of 12%. Unseasoned density is an approximation as it depends on the moisture content at the time of measurement. Measured kg/m3.

    Seasoned:

    480kg/m3

    Unseasoned:

    820kg/m3

    Joint Group The joint group is a classification of the strength of a species in joint design. The values are from 1 (very high strength) to 6 (very low strength).

    Very High

    High

    Reasonably High

    Medium

    Low

    Very Low

    Unseasoned:

    J1

    J2

    J3

    J4

    J5

    J6
    Check mark

    Seasoned:

    JD1

    JD2

    JD3

    JD4

    JD5

    JD6

    Colour The colour of seasoned heartwood can vary between species and often within a species. The information provided should be used as a general guide only. In most cases, the colour of sapwood is either a lighter shade of the heartwood or a white/cream colour.

      White, yellow, pale straw to light brown Pink to pink brown Light to dark red Brown, chocolate, mottled or streaky
       
    Check mark

    Mechanical Properties

    Modulus of Rupture - Unseasoned: This property is a measure of maximum stress which timber can momentarily sustain when loaded slowly and continuously as a beam. Measured in MPa.
    53

    Modulus of Rupture - Seasoned: This property is a measure of maximum stress which timber can momentarily sustain when loaded slowly and continuously as a beam. Measured in MPa.
    74.3

    Modulus of Elasticity - Unseasoned: This property is of importance in determining the deflection of a beam under load — the greater the stiffness, the less the deflection. Measured in GPa.
    7.1

    Modulus of Elasticity - Seasoned: This property is of importance in determining the deflection of a beam under load — the greater the stiffness, the less the deflection. Measured in GPa.
    7.9

    Maximum Crushing Strength - Unseasoned:

    Also referred to as compression strength. This property measures the ability of the timber to withstand loads applied on the end grain. Measured in MPa.
    23

    Maximum Crushing Strength - Seasoned: Also referred to as compression strength. This property measures the ability of the timber to withstand loads applied on the end grain. Measured in MPa.
    40.3

    Impact - Unseasoned: Provides the Izod value, which is the energy taken in joules (J) to fracture the timber.

    Impact - Seasoned: Provides the Izod value, which is the energy taken in joules (J) to fracture the timber.

    Toughness - Unseasoned: This is a measure of timber’s ability to resist shocks and blows, and is synonymous with impact strength. It is measured in Nm.

    Toughness - Seasoned: This is a measure of timber’s ability to resist shocks and blows, and is synonymous with impact strength. It is measured in Nm.

    Hardness - Unseasoned: Refers to the Janka hardness test and is a measure of timber’s resistance to indentation.
    1.9

    Hardness - Seasoned: Refers to the Janka hardness test and is a measure of timber’s resistance to indentation.
    2.5

    Durability

    Low Moderate Reasonably High High
    (0 - 5 yrs) (5 - 15 yrs) (15 - 25 yrs) (more than 25 yrs)

    In-Ground: Durability is defined as the inherent resistance of a timber species to decay, or to insect or marine borer attack. All references to durability refer to the heartwood only. A scale of low to high (durability class 4 = low; 1 = high) has been adapted for above and in-ground durability.

    		 Check mark
    (0 - 7 yrs) (7 - 15 yrs) (15 - 40 yrs) (More than 40 yrs)

    Above ground: Durability is defined as the inherent resistance of a timber species to decay, or to insect or marine borer attack. All references to durability refer to the heartwood only. A scale of low to high (durability class 4 = low; 1 = high) has been adapted for above and in-ground durability.

    		 Check mark
    (0 - 20 yrs, usually < 5) (21 - 40 yrs) (41 - 64 yrs) (More than 60 yrs)

    Marine Borer Resistance: Indicates whether a species is resistant (R) or not resistant (NR) to marine borer attack.

    Lyctid Borer Susceptibility: Indicates whether a species is susceptible (S) or not susceptible (NS) to lyctid borer attack.

    Not Susceptible

    Lyctid Borer Susceptibility - Other:

    Termite Resistance: Indicates whether a species is resistant (R) or not resistant (NR) to termites.

    Resistant

    Fire Properties

    Appearance

    Sapwood colour pale yellow-brown and little different from the yellow-brown heartwood although wood from old trees tends to be darker.   Grain and texture: grain generally straight but can deviate considerably from stem fluting or around knots from large branches of trees grown in open grown shelter belts or.  The texture is fine and even with visible growth rings.  Ray tissue gives the wood a lustrous appearance similar to that of hoop or kauri.   The heartwood exhibits a fragrant spicy odour or ‘pencils’ similar to that of western red cedar. 

    Common Applications

    Weatherboards, pergolas, landscaping, exposed rafters and beams (internal), shingles, tongue and grove panelling, flooring overlays, feature gates and fencing, slabs for kitchens and bar tops, shop fittings signs, tables, (use for furniture is comparable to radiata pine although the long term performance is adversely affected by the low hardness (c. 65% that of pine)), boat building, cabinet making, wood turning and carving, fence battens, stairways and balustrades, laminating, picture framing and joinery and firewood.

    Workability

    The wood saws, planes and works easily owing to its fine texture.  It holds nails well; the gluing and painting properties are good.   Bending properties are reportedly very poor.

    Origin of timber
    VIC
    Farm lots
    Readily Available
    VIC
    This originally exotic species commonly used for windbreaks on Victorian farms is becoming increasingly available commercially. Several small sawmilling operations in Victoria include e.g., (http://goldencypress.com.au/) and (http://www.jedwoodtimber.com.au/cypress.html). Elsewhere processing farm-sourced and plantation grown timber includes, e.g., (http://www.cypress-sawmill.co.nz/)
    Source of timber
    Plantation
    a kitchen with wooden cabinets and a countertop

    Joinery

    Timber joinery offers a classic, stylish touch to any interior or exterior space.
    a reception desk in a building

    Panelling, Interior

    Timber panelling creates interiors as warm as they are stylish. Commonly using an MDF or plywood substrate, internal timber paneling is natural and versatile and comes as either solid natural timber panels or as sheets of engineered wood products
    a close-up of a building

    Cladding, External

    The natural appeal, versatility and strength of timber makes it the superior choice for external cladding. Through specification, planning, design and finishing processes, timber cladding not only creates a building of superior strength, acoustic and thermal performance but also creates a place of beauty, style and natural appeal.
    a glass building with a wood deck

    Windows

    With natural aesthetic appeal, versatility and sound structural performance, timber provides excellent window joinery design options. Whether stained to bring out natural tones, or painted to compliment particular décors, timber windows can be tailored to suit a huge variety of styles and can be installed into any type of building.

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