Sassafras
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Other Names
Northern Sassafras, Socket Sassafras, Socetwood, Canary Sassafras, Yellow Sassafras, Grey Sassafras, Golden Deal, Golden Sassafras, Blackheart Sassafras
Sassafras is a hardwood, straight-grained and yellowish-grey or brown in colour, used for cabinet drawer sides, brushware, small tool handles, turnery and plywood.
Sassafras is a hardwood originating in New South Wales, not to be confused with Tasmanian or southern sassafras. It is yellowish grey or brown to dark brown. Its grain is usually straight and the texture very even.
The variations in colour make it a popular material for customised items. It is used for cabinet drawer sides, brushware, small tool handles, turnery, and plywood.
Sassafras is firm but easy to work. It glues well, and its uniform surface provides a good base for paints.
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Botanical Name
Doryphora Sassafras
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Preferred Common Name
Sassafras
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Species Type
Appearance
The grain of sassafras is usually straight and the texture very even. In colour it is yellowish grey or brown to dark brown.
Common Applications
Sassafras is used for plywood, small tool handles, cabinet drawer sides, brushware and turnery.
Common Form
Veneer
Workability
Sassafras is firm but easy to work. It glues well and its uniform surface provides a good base for paints.
Origin of Timber
Readily Available
Availability - Further Information
Availability - Further Information
Shrinkage
| Very Low | Low | Medium | High | Very High | |
Tangential : |
5.80% |
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Radial: |
2.20% |
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Unit Movement Tangential: |
0.34% |
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Unit Movement Radial: |
0.18% |
Strength Group 
Very High |
High |
Reasonably High |
Medium High |
Medium |
Reasonably Low |
Low |
Very Low |
|
Unseasoned: |
S1 |
S2 |
S3 |
S4 |
S5 |
S6 |
S7 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seasoned: |
SD1 |
SD2 |
SD3 |
SD4 |
SD5 |
SD6 |
SD7 |
SD8 |
Stress Grade
| Structural No. 1 |
Structural No. 2 |
Structural No. 3 |
Structural No. 4 |
Structural No. 5 |
|
Unseasoned: |
F11 |
F8 |
F7 |
F5 |
F4 |
Seasoned: |
F17 |
F14 |
F11 |
F8 |
F7 |
Density per Standard
Seasoned: |
590kg/m3 |
|---|---|
Unseasoned: |
910kg/m3 |
Joint Group
Very High |
High |
Reasonably High |
Medium |
Low |
Very Low |
|
Unseasoned: |
J1 |
J2 |
J3 |
J4 |
J5 |
J6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seasoned: |
JD1 |
JD2 |
JD3 |
JD4 |
JD5 |
JD6 |
Colour
| White, yellow, pale straw to light brown | Pink to pink brown | Light to dark red | Brown, chocolate, mottled or streaky | |
Mechanical Properties
Modulus of Rupture - Unseasoned: |
55 |
|---|---|
Modulus of Rupture - Seasoned: |
85 |
Modulus of Elasticity - Unseasoned: |
10 |
Modulus of Elasticity - Seasoned: |
12 |
Maximum Crushing Strength - Unseasoned: |
30 |
Maximum Crushing Strength - Seasoned: |
50 |
Impact - Unseasoned: |
10 |
Impact - Seasoned: |
9 |
Toughness - Unseasoned: |
Low - up to 15 Nm |
Toughness - Seasoned: |
Low - up to 15 Nm |
Hardness - Unseasoned: |
2.1 |
Hardness - Seasoned: |
3.4 |
Durability
| Low | Moderate | Reasonably High | High | |
| (0 - 5 yrs) | (5 - 15 yrs) | (15 - 25 yrs) | (more than 25 yrs) | |
In-Ground: |
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| (0 - 7 yrs) | (7 - 15 yrs) | (15 - 40 yrs) | (More than 40 yrs) | |
Above ground: |
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| (0 - 20 yrs, usually < 5) | (21 - 40 yrs) | (41 - 64 yrs) | (More than 60 yrs) | |
Marine Borer Resistance: |
Lyctid Borer Susceptibility: |
Not Susceptible |
|---|---|
Lyctid Borer Susceptibility - Other: |
|
Termite Resistance: |
Not Resistant |
Fire Properties
| 1 - non-combustible | 2 - reasonably non-combustible | 3 - slightly combustible | 4 - combustible | |
Fire Properties Group |
Group Number - Other: |
3 if used on MDF or particleboard ≥12mm; veneer thickness 0.6-0.85mm |
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Average Specific Extinction Area: |
<250 |
Bushfire Resistance: |
BAL 12.5 and 19 – All AS3959 required applications |
