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

Scientific Name
Terminalia tomentosa

Trade Name
Asan

Family Name
Combretaceae

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Asan, Asna, Cam lien, Chhlik, Indian laurel, Karimardu, Karu maruthu, Koro maruthu, Maddi, Marda, Mareta, Matti, Neang phaek, Rokfa, Sadar, Sain, Taukkyan, Thembavu

Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Burma, Cambodia, India, Laos

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Bearings & bushings, Boat building (general), Cabinetmaking, Charcoal, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Ladders, Light construction, Mine timbers, Moldings, Paneling, Piling, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Roofing, Structural work, Tables, Tool handles, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative, Walking sticks, Wheel spokes, Wheels

Heartwood Color
Brown
Yellow
Orange
Red
Pink
Dark brown
Pale brown
Brown
Black
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Pale red to pink


Sapwood Color
White
Yellow
Brown
Red
White to yellow
Well defined
Pinkish
Different than heartwood


Grain
Figure
Variable (figure)
Even
Interlocked
Distinct (figure)
Stripe (figure)
Other (figure)

Variable figure
Interlocked
Distinct figure
Striped figure
Other figure


Texture
Coarse
Medium
Even or uniform
Resinous and oily
Uniform
Coarse


Luster
Low
Slightly lustrous
Lustrous
Dull


Natural Durability
Moderately durable
Susceptible to insect attack
Non-durable
Non-resistant to termites
Durable
Non-resistant to powder post beetles
Perishable
Resistant to marine borers
Resistant to powder post beetles
Durable
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Moderately durable


Odor
Has an odor


Kiln Schedules
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid
Dry at a slow speed
UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is slow


Drying Defects
Splitting
Distortion
Checking
Discoloration
Moderate end spitting
Moderate twist/warp
Slight cupping
No cupping, generally
Moderate surface checking


Ease of Drying
Fairly Easy
Rapidly
Thick Stock Requires Care
Difficult


Kiln Drying Rate
Naturally dries quickly
Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm)
Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm)
Very slow (>28 days for boards < 32 mm, to >84 days for boards >= 63 mm)


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is straight


Tree Size
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Sapwood width is 0-5 cm
Sapwood width is 5-10 cm
Bole length is 10-20 m
Tree height is 30-40 m
Bark width is 25-30 mm
Bark width is 20-25 mm
Tree height is 40-50 m


Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect
Little


Boring
Fairly easy to very easy


Carving
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results


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


Gluing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to glue
Difficult to glue


Mortising
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Moulding
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Nailing
Fair to Good Results
Pre-Boring Recommended
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Difficult to nail


Planing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fair to Good Results


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


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


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


Sanding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Screwing
Pre-boring recommended


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


Veneering Qualities
There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits


Polishing
Fair to Good Results
Poor to Very Poor Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Satisfactory results
Good results


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


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength921014132psi
Density53lbs/ft3
Hardness2451lbs
Impact Strength47inches
Maximum Crushing Strength54088171psi
Shearing Strength1442psi
Stiffness147117021000 psi
Weight5244lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage5%
Tangential Shrinkage8%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength647993kg/cm2
Density849kg/m3
Hardness1111kg
Impact Strength119cm
Maximum Crushing Strength380574kg/cm2
Shearing Strength101kg/cm2
Stiffness1031191000 kg/cm2
Weight833705kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage5%

References
Bhat, R.V.,1970,Pulping of Tropical Hardwoods,Indian Pulp and Paper Technology Association IPPTA,7(3,pp203-214

Bourdillon, T.F.,1908,The Forest Trees of Travancore,Travancore Government Press

Carrapiett, J.B.,1960,Notes on ornamental timbers of Burma,Burmese Forester,10(1,pp37-53

Chinchole, P.R., Salgiya, S.C.,1971,Anatomical and Chemical Characteristics of Indian Hardwoods with Special,Reference to their Suitability for Pulp: Part IV Eucalyptus citriodora,,Terminalia tomentosa, Strychnos niuxvomica,Indian Pulp and Paper 26(1/6) pp7-13

Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.

Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London

Cox, H.A.,1939,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough

Gamble, J.S.,1902,A Manual of Indian Timbers,Sampson Low, Marston & Co. London

Harrar, E.S.,1942,Some Physical Properties of Modern Cabinet Woods 3. Directional and Volume,Shrinkage,Tropical Woods,9(71, pp26-32

Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed.

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

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

Ramesh, Rao K., Juneja, K.B.S.,1971,Field Identification of Fifty Important timbers of India,Dehra Dun India

Ramesh, Rao K., Purkayastha, S.K.,1972,Indian Woods - Their Identification Properties and Uses,Dehra Dun India,Vol. 3

Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press

Roonwal, M.L., Et al,1956,Experiments on the effect of kiln-seasoning of planks from three species,of timber (Terminalia belerica, Terminalia tomentosa and Eugenia,jambolana,Indian Forester 82(9) pp455-68

Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T

Sekhar, A.C., Rana, R.S.,1957,Physical and mechanical properties of wood tested at the Forest Research,Institute, Dehra Dun,. Report IX,Indian Forest Records (ns) Timber Mechanics 1(10) pp167-70

Sekhar, A.C.,1967,Some Indian Timbers Equivalent to Foreign Timbers,Van Vigyan 5(1&2,pp18-24

Sharma, S.N.,1962,Experiments on the High Temperature Drying of some Indian Timbers,(Part.2,Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun Indian Forest Bulletin No.236

Sinha, J.N.,1937,A report on laurel wood (Terminalia tomentosa) and its market in England.,Imperial Forest Institute, Oxford

Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition