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Blunting Effect Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Corrosive Properties Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Intsia bijuga Trade Name Kwila Family Name Caesalpiniaceae Synonyms Intsia amboinensis Common Names Ai fra mas, Aizella, Bafn ooi, Bendora, Borneo teak, Choyo, Dedira, Dort, Dowora, Eh, Finuki-ukaba, Ghughole, Go nvoe, Go-nuoe, Gox nuwowse, Hintzy, Ifet, Ifil, Ihili, Ipi, Ipil, Isere, Ivili, Kaboing, Kajoe besi, Kayu besi, Kebuk, Kelo, Kivili, Krakas prek, Kubok, Kubuk, Kuren, Kwila, Lehase, Lumpha, Lumpho, Lumpho-thale, Makhamong, Makhar, Maroeasi, Melila, Mer, Merbau, Merbau changkat, Merbaue, Mirabow, Moluccan ijzerhout, Moluccan ironwood, Nityanmis, Ombong, Pas, Pradu-thale, Sabol, Sekka, Show, Sira, Tariti, Tashiro-mame, Tat-talun, Telat, Thort, Tos, Tuamis, U'ula, Vesi, Vuvuta, Wantal, Waroeasi, Wesele, Zolt, Zort Regions of Distribution Africa, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Australia, Fiji [Polynesia], Fiji, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, New Caledonia Island [France], New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Vietnam Common Uses Agricultural implements, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Boat building: planking, Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Construction, Crossties, Decks, Domestic flooring, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory construction, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture , Furniture, Handles, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Ladders, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Mathematical instruments, Mine timbers, Musical instruments, Office furniture, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Piling, Poles, Posts, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Shafts/Handles, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Sub-flooring, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative, Wharf construction Environmental Profile Rare Abundant/Secure Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center This species has been classified as Vulnerable and is possibly Endangered within its natural habitat in the Philippines. Its status in Vietnam and Indonesia is currently known to be either Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare. Its stautus in the wild has also been listed as unknown because of inadequate information in parts of Myanmar or Burma and India, Kampuchea, Thailand, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Pacific Islands, and American Samoa Distribution Overview American Samoa, Australia, Burma, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Madagascar (at low altitudes in the west), Malaysia, Myanmar, Pacific Islands, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Seychelles, Tanzania, Thailand, and Viet Nam. It is a tree of lowland, tropical rain forest which is often found in coastal areas bordering mangrove swamps, rivers, or floodplains. It is also found inland up to 600m, in primary or old secondary forests. Heartwood Color Red Brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Brown Reddish brown Dark brown Pale brown The heartwood is yellowish to orange-brown initially, but it matures into brown or dark red-brown. Color variation between boards is moderate to high. Sapwood Color White to yellow Well defined Paler than heartwood Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Whitish gray to light yellowish brown. Width is 1.5 to 2 inches (4 to 5 cm). Grain Interlocked Wavy Straight Figure Even Closed Other (figure) Ribbon (figure) Rippled (figure) Interlocked Wavy Straight Straight to interlocked Rippled figure Ribbon figure Other figure Texture Coarse Medium coarse to coarse Coarse Oily feel Medium Luster Slightly lustrous Lustrous Natural Growth Defects Yellowish deposits in vessels Whitish deposits in vessels Natural Durability Non-resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to termites Very durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Moderately resistant to marine borer attack Resistant to attack from marine borers Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Odor Characteristic odor, easily detectable when worked. Astringent taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Corrosive Properties Reacts with metals Non-corrosive Toxicity Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Splitting Checking Case Hardening Distortion Slight surface checking Slight end splitting Moderate twist/warp Moderate end spitting Ease of Drying Thick Stock Requires Care Moderately Difficult to Difficult Easy Moderate Kiln Drying Rate Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is misshapen Bole/stem form is fluted Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m The tree is described as large in size, developing boles that are often short and thick Product Sources Comments Deposits and Reaction with Textiles - Pores usually contain water soluble yellowish deposits which are conspicuous on wood surface. A dark brown gummy substance which may stain textiles is also reported to leach out steadily with water. General finishing qualities are rated as good The timber is described as moderately heavy and moderately hard, with strength properties that are similar to those of Hickory (Carya ), but it is less dense. Blunting Effect Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate Blunting effect on machining is variable Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Severe dulling effect on cutting edges Moderately easy Good boring properties Easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to carve Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Saw teeth are gummed up easily and dulled quickly Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is variable Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Carbide tipped tools are recommended Gluing Moderate gluing properties The wood is reported to glue well (except with casein glues) but requires considerable filling. Oily surfaces may cause difficulties. Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Finishes well Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy When moulding quartered surfaces, it is recommended that a 20 degree cutting angle be used to minimize tear and pick up Movement in Service Stable Small Nailing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Holds nails well Difficult to nail Tends to split during nailing Pre-boring recommended Possible if prebored Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planes well, to a good finish Quartersawn material with interlocked grain is rather difficult to plane and requires a reduced angle of 20 degrees to minimize tear and pick up. Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Heartwood is highly resistant Sapwood is permeable Sapwood is resistant Sapwood is extremely resistant Heartwood is resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Responds Readily Moderate working qualities Variable qualities Responds fairly well to hand tools Difficult to machine Cutting edges are dulled quickly and severely Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good routing properties Tends to dull cutting edges rather severely Sanding Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory sanding properties May be some interference from oily patches Good sanding finish Screwing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Screwing yields good results Good screw holding properties Difficult to screw Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Finish is generally satisfactory Poor results Veneering Qualities Difficult to veneer Diifficult to veneer Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling Bolt preparation requires steaming Steam Bending Poor because of oil exudations Good Painting Satisfactory results Takes paint well Polishing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Satisfactory results Good results Occasional surface preparation may be required because of oily patches Staining Staining (Characteristic) = coloured water-soluble extract Reacts with Iron to discolour wood Finish is generally satisfactory Finish is generally good Stains well Ferrous metals or moisture may stain wood black. Varnishing Takes varnish well Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Max. crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = high Density (dry weight) = 53 - 60 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Hardness (side grain) = hard Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Hardness (side grain) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = small Bending strength (MOR) = very high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high Density (dry weight) = 61 - 67 lbs/cu. ft. Max crushing strength = very high Bending strength (MOR) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 14282 20110 psi Crushing Strength 1411 1784 psi Density 49 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1885 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 7292 10062 psi Shearing Strength 2677 psi Static Bending 8126 10272 psi Stiffness 2072 2393 1000 psi Toughness 475 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.63 0.65 Weight 54 48 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 4 % Volumetric Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1004 1413 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 99 125 kg/cm2 Density 785 kg/m3 Hardness 855 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 512 707 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 188 kg/cm2 Static Bending 571 722 kg/cm2 Stiffness 145 168 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 547 cm-kg Specific Gravity 0.63 0.65 Weight 865 769 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 4 % References Alston, A.S.,1966,Natural Heartwood Durability,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva. 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Building Res. C.S.I.R.O. Australia Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, and E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods - Temperate and Tropical. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 8 Australasia,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Budgen, B.,1981,Shrinkage and density of some Australian and South-East Asian Timbers,C.S.I.R.O. Div. building Res. Tech Paper(2nd Series) No.38 C.S.I.R.O. Division of Building Research,1978,CSIRO Division of Building Research Information service Sheet No. 10-39,Kwila (merbau,CSIRO Division of Building Research Information service, Melbourne,,Australia Cameron, S.,1945,Some Notes on Utilisation of Timbers in the South-West Pacific,New Zealand Journal of Forestry Volume 5(2) 117-127 Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Da Costa, E.W.B., Osborne, L.D.,1967,Comparative decay resistance of 26 New Guinea timber species in,accelerated laboratory tests,Comm. Forestry Review 46(1) pp63-74 Desch, H.E.,1954,Manual of Malayan Timbers (2 vols,Malayan Forest Records,no.15 E.H. Walker,1954,Important Trees of the Ryukyu Islands,United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands Special Bulletin,No. 3 EcoTimber International, San Francisco, California. Personal Communication, 1993. Eddowes, P.J. 1977. Commercial Timbers of Papua New Guinea - Their Properties and Uses. Forest Products Research Center, Office of Forests, Department of Primary Industry, Papua New Guinea. Eddowes, P.J.,1977,Commercial Timbers of Papua New Guinea: Their Properties and Uses,Hebano Press, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea Fiji Department of Forestry,1969,A Summary of the Properties of 34 Indigenous Timbers,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva. 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Kribs, D.A.,1950,Commercial and Foreign Woods on the American Market (a manual to their,structure, identification, uses and distribution,U.S.A. Penn. State College, Tropical Woods Laboratory Kukachka, B.F.,1970,Properties of Imported Tropical Woods,Forest Research Paper FPL 125 Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Company, Inc., Fresno, California. Netherlands - Houtinstituut T.N.O.,1963,Merbau,Houtinstituut T.N.O. Delft. NWFA. 1994. Wood Species Used in Wood Flooring. Technical Publication No. A200. National Wood Flooring Association, Manchester, MO. Papua New Guinea Department of Forests,1972,New Horizons,Forestry in Papua New Guinea,Jacaranda Press PTY Ltd, Brisbane Pleydell, G.J.,1970,Timbers of the British Solomon Islands,United Africa Company (Timber) Ltd, London Rao, K.R. and S.K. Purkayastha. 1972. Indian Woods - Their Identification, Properties and Uses, Volume III - Leguminosae to Combretaceae. Published by the Manager of Publications, Delhi, India. Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London Reyes, L.J.,1938,Philippine Woods,Commonwealth of the Philippines Department of Agriculture and Commerce,Technical Bulletin,No.7 Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T Solomon Islands,1976,Solomon Islands Timbers - Major Species,For Div. Min. Nat. Resources, Honiara, Timber Booklet 1 Takahashi, A.,1978,Compilation of Data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part,III) Africa,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No. 7 Tamolang, F.N., Martawijaya, A., Kartasujana, I., Kadir, K., Parwira, S.,1992,Indonesian Wood Atlas Volume II,Department of Forestry, Agency for Forestry Research and Development,,Bogor-Indonesia Tanzanian Forest Department, Pterocarpus angolensis,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sect. Moshi - Timbers of Tanganika The Ecological Trading Company Limited (ETC, Newcastle upon Tyre, United Kingdom. WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.