Specs
- Common Names
- Camphor, Camphor Laurel
- Scientific Name
- Cinnamomum camphora
- Origin
- Native to southeast Asia, widely planted throughout tropical and subtropical regions worldwide
- Appearance
- Color can be highly variable depending on species and growing conditions; generally a light brown, frequently with shades of gray, red, or olive green. Occasionally contains darker streaks. Paler sapwood isn’t always clearly differentiated from the heartwood. Burls are also commonly seen, and are considered highly decorative. Grain can be straight, interlocked, and/or wavy. Uniform medium texture with a high natural luster and a slightly greasy feel. Endgrain: Semi-ring porous or diffuse-porous; solitary and radial multiples; medium to large pores (two distinct sizes in semi-ring-porous samples) in no specific arrangement, few; tyloses occasionally present; parenchyma vasicentric, confluent; medium-width rays, spacing normal.
- Avg. Dried Weight
- 33 lbs/ft3 (520 kg/m3)
- Janka Hardness
- 950 lbf
- Modulus of Rupture
- 11,670 lbf/in2 (80.5 MPa)
- Elastic Modulus
- 1,676,000 lbf/in2 (11.56 GPa)
- Crushing Strength
- 5,820 lbf/in2 (40.1 MPa)
- Shrinkage
- Radial: 3.1%, Tangential: 5.4%, Volumetric: 8.7%, T/R Ratio: 1.7
- Durability
- Rated as durable, with mixed resistance to various insect attacks.
- Workability
- Camphor’s moderate density makes it easy to shape and machine with minimal effort. Areas of interlocked grain may cause tearout issues, but complications are usually minimal. Glues and finishes well.
