Janka Hardness Ratings
The Janka hardness test is the hardness level given to each species. Hardness is expressed in kilo newtons; the Janka rating is a measure of the wood to resist indentation. It is one of the best measures of the ability of a wood species to withstand denting and wear. The higher the Janka rating / number the greater the hardness.
The higher the Janka Rating, the harder the timber is.
Timber Species |
Hardness JANKA | Colour/Tone |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Chestnut | 8.1 | Mellow Straw brown to light browns, may have a hint of pink |
| Blackbutt | 9.1 | often straw to pale brown |
| Blue Gum | 9.0 | often mid to light red brown |
| Brush Box | 9.5 | often mid brown with pink tones |
| Cherry Mahogany | 8.8 | often medium to deep red |
| European Oak | 6 | Blondes, Light Brown to Dark Tan |
| Grey Box | 15.0 | often mid brown with paler tones |
| Grey Gum | 14.0 | often red brown with paler sapwood |
| Grey Ironbark | 14.0 | often mid to dark brown and red brown |
| Jarrah | 9 | Dark Red to Brown |
| Karri | 9 | Pale Pink to Reddish Brown |
| Mixed Hardwoods Species | 9.5 to 14.0 | A mixture of Spotted Gum, Brushbox, Ironbark and Blackbutt |
| Mixed Reds | 9.5 | A mixture of Red Mahogany, Flooded Gum, Blue Gum and River Red Gum |
| New England Blackbutt | 9.5 | often straw to pale brown |
| Northern Beech Species | 8.0 to 10.0 | often straw to straw brown |
| Pearl Mahogany | 8.8 | often pale brown with pinkish tones |
| Red Gum | 12.0 | often deep red with paler sapwood |
| Red Ironbark | 14.0 | often dark brown to red brown |
| Spotted Gum | 11.0 | often mid brown with light sapwood |
| Tallowwood | 8.6 | often light olive brown |
| Tasmanian Oak | 7 | Light in colour, varying from straw to reddish brown with intermediate shades of cream to pink. |
| Turpentine | 12.0 | often mid brown with pink tones |
| Wormy Chestnut | 8.1 | Pale Blondes to Greyish Brown may have a hint of Pink |