Common Names:   Giant chinkapin Chinkapin Golden chestnut Purchase Chinkapin

Mechanical Values

Environmental Profile
The conservation status of this species within its natural growth range has not been officially determined. 

Distribution
The only tree-sized species of the Castanopsis genus found in the United States, Giant chinkapin is reported to occur in the Pacific Coast region, from southwestern Washington south in the Coastal ranges to central California. It also occurs in the Sierra Nevada of Central California. The tree prefers gravelly and rocky soils in mountain slopes and canyons in Redwood and evergreen forests.

Product Sources
Some material from this species is reported to be available from environmentally responsible or sustainably managed sources. 

Tree Data
The mature tree is usually about 40 to 80 feet (12 to 24 m) high, with a trunk diameter of 12 to 36 inches (30 to 90 cm). 

Sapwood Color
The narrow sapwood is pale brown with a pinkish tinge, and is not distinct from the heartwood.

Heartwood Color
The heartwood is pale reddish brown or light brown with pinkish stripes or cast. 

Odor
There is no distinctive odor or taste.

Ease of Drying
Kiln-drying from the green conditions is reported to be rather difficult. Air-seasoning to a moisture content of about 20% before kilning is recommended to prevent excessive degrade.

Drying Defects
The wood is reported to be prone to collapse if dried from the green conditions. Honeycomb and checks are also reported to be rather common.

Kiln Schedules
Table 292 (4/4) US

The recommendation for drying 5/4 stock is to air-dry to 20 percent moisture content before kiln drying with Table 290.

Movement in Service
Properly seasoned timber is reported to be fairly stable.

T/R Ratio
1.40
This indicator is more meaningful if it is used together with actual shrinkage data in the tangential and radial directions. (Refer to the Numerical Values window).

Natural Durability
The wood is reported to be susceptible to attack by decay-causing organisms.

Resistance to Impregnation
The heartwood is reported to have medium resistance to impregnation. The sapwood is impregnable.

Cutting Resistance
The wood is reported to saw without difficulty.

Planing
Giant chinkapin is reported to have good planing qualities. It is rated as inferior to the Oaks (Quercus ) and Madrone (Arbutus ) in planing properties, but produces less defects than Walnut (Juglans ), Alder (Alnus ), and Maple (Acer ).

Turning
Turning characteristics are rated as good under controlled conditions.

Moulding
The wood is reported to have superior moulding qualities, but requires some care.

Boring
Boring properties are excellent.

Mortising
Mortising qualities are reported to be good.

Carving
The wood can be carved easily.

Gluing
The wood has very good gluing properties, and is reported to bond well with a wide range of glues under moderately controlled conditions. Strength of glued joints are rated as excellent.

Nailing
Resistance to splitting in nailing operations is reported to be very good, and nail-holding properties are good.

Screwing
Screwing and screw-holding characteristics are rated as very good.

Sanding
The timber is reported to respond readily to sanding with very little scratching and fuzzing.

Strength Properties
Bending strength in the air-dried condition (about 12% moisture content) is medium, but lower than Mahogany, and much lower than White oak. It is moderately hard and resistant to wearing and marring. The weight is moderate. 

Comments
Chinkapin is reported to be seldom used for building or structural applications because of its scarcity. It is used mainly for fine furniture and other interior applications.