Ashbrook Products - Materials We Use

MACROCARPA / ALDER

Macrocarpa has been described as an exotic softwood, along with Redwood, Alder, Lawsonia, and Western Red Cedar. It is from the Cypress family. The distinction between hardwood and softwood is not based on the relative hardness of the timber but on the cell formation. Hard woods are broad leaved trees and the seeds are formed inside a fruit. Softwoods have narrow needle like leaves and the seeds are usually formed in a cone.

Macrocarpa came to be recognized as a most useful all round farm timber. It was, and still is, used for general framing, weather boards, exterior joinery, gates, stockyard fencing, etc. Macrocarpa is very versatile. Other uses include moldings, furniture, paneling, flooring, shelving, architraves, fence palings. It was tried by boat builders, as it is similar to Kauri. It has been really successful here. The only draw back is that it cannot be steam bent.

Macrocarpa is a moderately stiff and strong timber. The heartwood of the Macrocarpa, along with Lusitanica and Lawson Cypress is the most durable of all the exotic softwood grown in New Zealand. For example, 50mm x 50mm stakes will last 10 -15 years in the ground. Larger sections will last longer. Out of the ground, as in garden furniture, their life will be at least doubled. The natural durability of this species has always been one of its main selling points. This means that the rough timber can be used for a multitude of purposes without preservative treatment. When wood is used out of the ground but fully exposed to the weather it can be susceptible to decay unless you use the correct timber for example, heart Macrocarpa, heart Red Beech or Kwila. Macrocarpa forms a high percentage of heartwood. Some trees are up to 80% heartwood. The older a tree is the more heartwood it will contain. Pockets of bark can run deep into the wood, therefore you can get bark running through the heartwood.

Macrocarpa is described as a low – medium density softwood. The wood of the cypresses does not vary much in density between trees, or within a single tree. The wood is therefore more uniform. The higher density woods shrink more than lower density woods, so hardwoods tend to shrink more than softwoods. When timber is exposed to the sun and rain it swells and shrinks due to loss or intake of moisture. This results in cracks in the surface but the wood below the surface remains sound. Macrocarpa is an attractive furniture timber. Its low shrinkage is in its favor. The key to success in using wood is to wait until it has completed shrinking before using. It should be dried to the correct moisture content. This can be achieved by first air drying to a certain percentage and then Kiln Drying. Kiln Drying involves temperature controlled dehumidification.

LARCH

Larch is almost all heartwood by the time it is sawn. The heartwood of Larch is a distinctive yellowish brown. It has prominent growth rings and randomly distributed small, tight knots making it an attractive wood. It is one of the hardest, densest and strongest commercial softwoods and has natural durability (i.e. it does not need extra chemical treatment). It has been used extensively for telegraph poles, railway sleepers, ship and barge building, house construction, fencing and gates and summer houses. Due to its decorative qualities it has been used in some prestigious places such as the Christchurch Town Hall and the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve building. Larch is classed as a medium density wood. It has a high moisture content and moderate shrinkage. It is a very strong wood. Among exotic softwoods there is only one other wood (Lawson Cypress) that is as strong as Larch. It’s stiffness is again only exceeded by Lawson Cypress. It has very similar qualities as Macrocarpa.

New Zealand Timbers – N.C. Clifton.

Wattyl Forestwood Deck and Furniture Oil

Wattyl Forestwood Deck and Furniture Oil’s rich formula penetrates the timber to protect and enhance the natural beauty of timber decks and garden furniture. It will highlight the natural grain, colour and texture of the timber. This oil dries completely to give a surface that won’t mark clothing or skin. It is ideal for all rough sawn and smooth timber.

Maintenance – Wattyl recommend that re-staining should be conducted every 2-3 summers, or as soon as the timber shows sign of weathering due to exposure. Darker colours will attract more heat and the interval between re-staining may be reduced.

Please note - you will need to wash application equipment with Mineral Turpentine.

Briwax (Teak Oil)

If your product has been mace from hardwood, such as Kwila, Briwax Teak Oil has been used. Briwax can be used for all varieties of wood and veneered surfaces. It enhances the natural beauty of the wood. It has a satin finish and it is suitable for interior and exterior use.