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Blunting Effect
Boring
Carving
Comments
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Distribution Overview
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
Family Name
Gluing
Grain
Heartwood Color
Kiln Schedules
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
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
Turning
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Swintonia floribunda

Trade Name
Am-barola

Family Name
Anacardiaceae

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Am-barola, Boilam, Boilsur, Chivit, Civit, Mengkasai, Merpauh, Pauh, Rengas, Shitle, Taungthayet, Thayet kan, Thayet kin, Thayet san, Thayet-kin-san, Thayetsan, Thayette, Thinbaung

Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Burma, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam

Common Uses
Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Canoes, Heavy construction, Light construction, Matches, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Toys, Veneer: decorative

Distribution Overview
Khaya ivorensis , K. anthotheca , K. grandifolia , and K. senegalensis are good substitues. Crabwood (Carapa guianensis) is similar in color and appearance, and also as tough.

Sapele (Entandrophragma cylindricum) is superior in strength properties. Silky oak (Grevillea robusta) is also similar.

Heartwood Color
Brown
Red
Black
Purple
Greenish to greyish
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Pale brown
Brown
White to cream
Red
Purple
Pale red to pink


Sapwood Color
Green/Grey
Red
Brown
White to yellow
Same as heartwood
Paler than heartwood


Grain
Figure
Distinct (figure)
Straight
Interlocked
Even
Stripe (figure)

Straight
Interlocked
Distinct figure
Striped figure


Texture
Fine
Uniform
Even or uniform
Coarse
Medium
Medium to coarse
Fine
Fine to medium


Luster
Low
Lustrous
Pronounced


Natural Durability
Durable
Moderately durable
Non durable
Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Moderately durable


Kiln Schedules
Drying (speed) is fast


Drying Defects
Distortion
Checking
No end splitting
Slight twist/warp
Slight surface checking
Slight spring/bow


Ease of Drying
Slowly
Thick Stock Requires Care
Requires special attention


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is buttressed
Bole/stem form is fluted


Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect
Moderate
Blunting effect on machining is severe


Boring
Fairly easy to very easy


Carving
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy


Gluing
Fair to Good Results


Mortising
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Moulding
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Movement in Service
Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement


Nailing
Pre-Boring Recommended
Fair to Good Results
Easy to nail
Holds nails well


Planing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


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


Response to Hand Tools
Responds Readily
Easy to Work
Easy to machine


Routing & Recessing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Sanding
Fair to Good Results


Screwing
Pre-boring recommended
Fair to Good Results


Turning
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Veneering Qualities
Suitable for slicing


Steam Bending
Fair to Good Results


Polishing
Fair to Good Results


Staining
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results


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


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength61119589psi
Density43lbs/ft3
Hardness995lbs
Impact Strength28inches
Maximum Crushing Strength30275157psi
Shearing Strength882psi
Stiffness135815681000 psi
Weight4234lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage3%
Tangential Shrinkage6%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength429674kg/cm2
Density689kg/m3
Hardness451kg
Impact Strength71cm
Maximum Crushing Strength212362kg/cm2
Shearing Strength62kg/cm2
Stiffness951101000 kg/cm2
Weight673544kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage3%

References
Anon,1963,Indian Woods: Their Identification, Properties and uses. Vol.II Linaceae,to Moringaceae,Manager of Publications, Delhi, India

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

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.,1965,Timber tests - merpauh (Swintonia spp.,Malayan Forester 28(1) pp56-62

Limaye, V.D.,1933,The Physical and Mechanical Properties of woods grown in India (Third,Interim Report on Project 1,Indian Forest Records,18(10,pp1-70

Menon, P.K.B.,1959,The wood anatomy of Malayan timbers: commercial timbers, 3. Light,hardwoods,Malaysian Forest Research Institute Kepong, Research Pamplet, No. 27.

Ng, F.S.P. (Ed,1989,Tree Flora of Malaya A Manual for Foresters Volume 4,Forest Research Institute Malaysia Ministry of Primary Industries

Pearson, R.S., Brown, H.P.,1932,Commercial Timbers of India,Govt. Printer Calcutta,2 vols

Razzaque, M.A., Das, P.,1969,Pulping studies of civit (Swintonia floribunda) wood,Forest - Dale News (Bano Biggyan Patrika) 1(2) pp16-29

Tewari, M.C., Jain, J.C.,1980,Utilization of Secondary Species,Journal of the National Building Organization 25(2) pp1-6