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Blunting Effect
Boring
Carving
Comments
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
Environmental Profile
Family Name
Gluing
Grain
Heartwood Color
Kiln Schedules
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Natural Growth Defects
Numerical Data
Odor
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning

Scientific Name
Shorea kunstleri

Trade Name
Amang besi

Family Name
Dipterocarpaceae

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Amang besi, Ampereng, Angeh, Bakiring, Balau laut merah, Balau merah, Bangkirai tigu, Belau merah, Benoa, Benua, Benua babi, Benuas, Benuas lebar duan, Damar latu merah, Damar laut merah, Dumar dahirang, Empatah tanduk, Guijo, Jagaan, Jagan, Jingaan, Lalin, Mahadirang, Mahasulit, Malalung, Mempelam, Meranti abang, Meranti paang, Meranti pahang, Pangen, Pengitan, Red balau, Red meranti, Red selangan, Red selangan batu, Rentuing, Selangan merah, Selimbar, Seraya, Seraya kitan, Seraya sirap, Sering lemidin, Tengkawang batu, Tengkawang bukit, Terbak, Tuyang

Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Brunei, Malaysia

Common Uses
Boat building (general), Boat building: framing, Flooring, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Marine construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Posts, Railroad ties, Vehicle parts

Environmental Profile
Abundant/Secure


Heartwood Color
Pink
Red
Purple
Reddish brown
Red
Pale red to pink
Brown


Sapwood Color
Red
Grey
Brown
White to yellow
Paler than heartwood


Grain
Interlocked
Figure
Distinct (figure)

Interlocked
Distinct figure


Texture
Coarse
Coarse


Luster
High
Medium
Low
Dull


Natural Growth Defects
Brittleheart is rare or absent. When present, it is sparse in amount


Natural Durability
Durable
Moderately durable
Very durable
Durable


Odor
Has an odor


Kiln Schedules
Dry at a slow speed


Drying Defects
Checking
Distortion
Moderate end spitting
Slight twist/warp
Slight surface checking
Slight end splitting
Severe twisting/warping
Severe end splitting
Moderate twist/warp


Ease of Drying
Reconditioning Treatement


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is buttressed
Bole/stem form is straight
Bole/stem form is cylindrical


Tree Size
Tree height is 20-30 m
Tree height is 40-50 m
Tree height is 50-60 m
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm


Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect
Blunting effect on sawing green wood is severe
Blunting effect on machining is slight


Boring
Fair to good results
Fairly difficult to very difficult
Fairly easy to very easy
Easy


Carving
Fair to Good Results


Cutting Resistance
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw
Cutting Resistance with green wood is variable
Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult


Gluing
Fair to Good Results


Mortising
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results


Moulding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Movement in Service
Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement
Excellent Stability - Small Movement


Nailing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Difficult to nail


Planing
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Planes well, to a good finish
Easy to plane


Resistance to Impregnation
Permeable sapwood
Resistant sapwood
Resistant heartwood
Heartwood is extremely resistant


Response to Hand Tools
Responds Readily
Easy to Work


Routing & Recessing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Sanding
Fair to Good Results


Screwing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Turning
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Good results
Easy to turn


Steam Bending
Poor to Very Poor Results
Tends to Degrade
Poor


Polishing
Surface Preparation
Fair to Good Results


Staining
Surface Preparation
Fair to Good Results


Strength Properties
Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft
Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft.
Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu.ft
Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft
Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.
Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large
Max. crushing strength = high
Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low
Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = high
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high
Max. crushing strength = medium
Hardness (side grain) = medium
Hardness (side grain) = hard
Bending strength (MOR) = medium


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength1144217761psi
Density49lbs/ft3
Hardness1987lbs
Impact Strength41inches
Maximum Crushing Strength59058762psi
Shearing Strength1544psi
Stiffness213624751000 psi
Weight4843lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage4%
Tangential Shrinkage7%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength8041248kg/cm2
Density785kg/m3
Hardness901kg
Impact Strength104cm
Maximum Crushing Strength415616kg/cm2
Shearing Strength108kg/cm2
Stiffness1501741000 kg/cm2
Weight769689kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage4%

References
Ashton, P.S.,1964,A manual of the Dipterocarp trees of Brunei State,O.U.P. London

Browne, F.G.,1955,Forest Trees of Sarawak and Brunei and their Products.,Government Printing Office, Kuching, Sarawak

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 4 South East Asia,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

Burgess, P.F.,1966,Timbers of Sabah,Sabah Forest Record, no.6

Desch, H.E.,1954,Manual of Malayan Timbers (2 vols,Malayan Forest Records,no.15

Fundter, J.M.,1982,Names for Dipterocarp timbers and trees from Asia,Pudoc, Wageningen, Netherlands

I. Soerianegara and R.H.M.J. Lemmens (Editors,1993,Plant Resources of South-East Asia 5,(PROSEA, 1,Timber trees: Major commercial timbers,Pudoc Scientific Publishers, Wageningen 1993

Lee, Y.H., et al,1974,Commercial Timbers of Peninsular Malaysia,Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Department of Forestry Peninsular Malaysia and,Malaysian Timber Industry Board

Lee, Y.H., Lopez, D.T.,1968,The Machining Properties of some Malayan Timbers,Malayan Forester,3,pp194-210

Meijer, W., Wood, G.H.S.,1964,Dipterocarps of Sabah (North Borneo,Sabah Forest Department, Forest Record No.5

Sweet, C.V.,1922,Further experiments in the air-seasoning of Indian timbers and general,recommendations as to seasoning methods.,Indian Forest Records IX part V, Delhi, India

Symington, C.F.,1943,Foresters manual of Dipterocarps,Malaysia Forest Record,No.16

Thomas, A.V.,1935,Timber tests: Nemesy (Shorea pauciflora) and Damar laut merah (Shorea,kunstleri,Malayan Forester 4(1) pp30-6