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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
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
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Resistance to Splitting
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Staining
Strength Properties
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Koompassia malaccensis

Trade Name
Thongbueng

Family Name
Leguminosae

Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Ampas, Bengaris, Berniung, Empas, Enggaris, Enggeris, Garis, Gemaris, Gembris, Gemeris, Goraci, Hampas, Impas, Inggeris, Kampas, Kayu batu, Kempas, Kempas angin, Kempas rawang, Kompas, Kumpas, Madang koran, Mengerih, Mengeris, Menggaris, Menggeris, Menggeris rawang, Menggeris talang, Menggris, Mengris, Ngeris, Ngeris abang, Njari, Nyari, Oempas, Pa, Pah, Paniasi, Sabanting, Tanggaris, Thongbeng, Thongbueng, Toealang ajam, Toemaling, Tumaling, Turturan batu, Umpas

Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Charcoal, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Core Stock, Crossties, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Door, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Office furniture, Pallets, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Piling, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Roofing, Rustic furniture, Shingles, Sporting Goods, Stools, Structural work, Sub-flooring, Tables, Tool handles, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative, Wharf construction

Environmental Profile
Safe in its natural habitat
Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center

Endangered in the Sarawak region. Its status is currently listed as unknown because of inadequate information in Thailand, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, Sabah, and Sumatra

Distribution Overview
Thailand, Indonesia (Sumatra), the Riau Archipelago, Bangka, Belitung, Borneo Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah. Found in lowland forest, peat and freshwater swamp, occurring from sea-level up to 600 m.

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

Freshly-Cut heartwood is pink to brick red. Upon exposure, it matures into an orange-red or red-brown color, with numerous yellow lines or streaks. They are abnormal sections lacking vessels may be a source of mechanical weakness.

Sapwood Color
White
White to yellow
Well defined
White
Very wide
Pale yellow
Figure occurrence is very fine and distinct


Grain
Interlocked
Figure
Wavy
Stripe (figure)
Distinct (figure)
Rippled (figure)
Crossed
Closed
Spiral

Interlocked
Wavy
Striped figure
Rippled figure
Distinct figure
Spiral grain occasionally
Occasionally wavy


Texture
Medium
Close
Coarse
Medium coarse to coarse
Even textured


Luster
Medium
High
Lustrous
Moderately lustrous
Dull


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


Natural Durability
Perishable
Moderately durable
Non-durable
Non-resistant to powder post beetles
Susceptible to insect attack
Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Durable
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Non durable
Moderately durable
Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles
Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack
Resistant to attack from pinworms (ambrosia beetles)
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present
Perishable

The timber is naturally resistant to decay in the temperate zones but is susceptible to termite attack in the tropics

Odor
No specific smell or taste


Light-Induced Color Change
Darker


Corrosive Properties
Reacts with metals


Kiln Schedules
Drying (speed) is fast
Dry at a slow speed
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid


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

Drying defects are at a minimum in this species, but areas of abnormal tissue, which is occasionally present may cause severe splitting.

Ease of Drying
Moderately Difficult to Difficult
Variable
Fairly Easy
Reconditioning Treatement
Slowly
Easy
Moderate
Variable results.
Difficult

The material dries fairly well and rapidly, but zones of abnormal tissue may cause severe splitting.

Kiln Drying Rate
Naturally dries slowly
Very slow
Drying rate is slow
Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm)
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 cylindrical
Bole/stem form is straight


Tree Size
Tree height is 20-30 m
Tree height is 10-20 m
Bole length is 10-20 m
Sapwood width is 5-10 cm
Bole length is 0-10 m
Bark width is 10-15 mm
Tree height is 30-40 m
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm


The tree matures to heights of up to 180 feet (54 m), with trunk diameters of up to 72 inches (180 cm) or more above heavy buttresses. Boles are clear to heights of 80 to 90 feet (24 to 27 m).

Comments
Abrasive Material Content - The wood contains abnormal veins of rock-hard tissue which may interfere with machining operations

Corrosive Properties - The wood is slightly acidic and may promote corrosion in some metals under moist conditions.

Blunting Effect
Blunting effect on machining is moderate
Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe
Blunting effect on machining is severe

Blunting effect on cutting tools varies but may be severe due to hardness and fibrous texture.

Boring
Fairly difficult to very difficult
Moderately easy
Difficult
Easy


Carving
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw
Cutting Resistance with green wood is moderate
Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate

Sawing requires adequate power supply, but it is rated as satisfactory

Mortising
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Finishes well
Difficult to mortise


Moulding
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Difficult moulding qualities


Movement in Service
Stable
Medium

Properly seasoned material is stable, and undergoes only minimal dimensional changes in response to changes in moisture content

Nailing
Possible if prebored
Nails hold poorly
Fair nailing characteristics
Easy to nail

Pre-Boring is recommended to prevent splitting when nailing close to edges.

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

The material is reported to plane to yield fairly good surfaces, but it is affected by interlocked grain and fibrous texture. A 20 degree cutting angle is recommended.

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

Both heartwood and sapwood are reported to respond readily to preservative treatment.

Resistance to Splitting
Poor


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

The wood is difficult to work with hand tools because it is hard and tough

Routing & Recessing
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Sanding
Good sanding finish
Sanding properties are good after grain filling
Easy to sand


Turning
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Difficult to turn
Turns with moderate ease
Poor results
Poor turning characteristics


Veneering Qualities
Diifficult to veneer


Polishing
Fair to Good Results
Satisfactory results
Good results
Requires a filler
Poor results


Staining
Reacts with Iron to discolour wood
Finish is generally good

Staining properties are good after surface preparation.

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


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength1235016773psi
Crushing Strength8921068psi
Density55lbs/ft3
Hardness1797lbs
Impact Strength4656inches
Maximum Crushing Strength74859834psi
Shearing Strength1598psi
Static Bending83109780psi
Stiffness234026551000 psi
Work to Maximum Load1215inch-lbs/in3
Specific Gravity0.640.76
Weight5351lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage4.5%
Tangential Shrinkage6%
Volumetric Shrinkage14%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength8681179kg/cm2
Crushing Strength6275kg/cm2
Density881kg/m3
Hardness815kg
Impact Strength116142cm
Maximum Crushing Strength526691kg/cm2
Shearing Strength112kg/cm2
Static Bending584687kg/cm2
Stiffness1641861000 kg/cm2
Work to Maximum Load0.841.05cm-kg/cm3
Specific Gravity0.640.76
Weight849817kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage4.5%
Tangential Shrinkage6%

References
Balan Menon, P.K.,1967,The structure and identification of Malayan woods,Malyasia Forestry Department, Forestry Research Institute, Malayan Forest,Records,No.25

Bodig, J. and B. A. Jayne. 1982. Mechanics of Wood and Wood Composites. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York.

Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1965,On nous a demandÇ - Quel est le bois nommÇ Kempas?,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.103 p58

Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Hardwoods - Temperate and Tropical. USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

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

Brown, W.H.,1969,Properties and uses of Tropical hardwoods in the United Kingdom. Part 1,Nonstructural properties and uses.,Conference on Tropical hardwoods SC-5/TN-5, Syracuse University

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

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

Chu, Y.P.,1969,Some basic strength properties of 22 timbers from Christmas Island,Malaysian Forester 32(2) pp201-2

Desch, H. E. 1957. Manual of Malayan Timbers. Malayan Forest Records, 28(30):315-318

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

Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO

Flemmioh, C.O.,1959,Timber Utilization in Malaysia,Malayan Forest Records 13, Govt. Printer Singapore

HMSO. 1972. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London.

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

Jackson, W.F.,1957,The Durability of Malayan Timbers,Malayan Forester,20,pp38-48

Kartasujana, I., Martawijaya, A.,1973,Commercial Woods of Indonesia,Forest Products Research Institute, Department Pertanian, Bogor Indonesia,Report No.3

Keating, W.G., Bolza, E.,1982,Characteristics properties and uses of timbers. South East Asia, Northern,Australia and the Pacific,C.S.I.R.O. Div. Chemical Technology,Inkata Press,1

Kloot, N. H. and E. Bolza. 1961. Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia. Technological Paper No. 12. Division of Forest Products, Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organization, Melbourne, Australia.

Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12

Kraemer, J.H.,1951,Trees of the Western Pacific Region,West Lafayette, Indiana U.S.A.

Kukachka, B.F.,1970,Properties of Imported Tropical Woods,Forest Research Paper FPL 125

Lee, Y.H., Chu, Y.P.,1965,The Strength Properties of Malayan Timbers,Malayan Forester 28(4) pp307-19

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

Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California.

Maeglin, R.R., C.K. Baah, G. Troemner, J.D. Danielson, and S.P. Loehnertz. 1989. Sawing of Difficult Species: Pre-project Study. PPR 14/89 (I). Prepared for ITTO by United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

Malaysian Timber Industry Board,1986,100 Malaysian Timbers,The Malaysian Timber Industry Board

Netherlands - Kon.Inst.,1968,Research Activities 1958-61,Koninklijk Inst. Voor de Tropen Amsterdam,Dept. Ag. Res. Communication,56

Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London

Sarawak - Borneo Lit.Bureau,1961,Common Sarawak timbers,Borneo Lit. Bureau for Sarawak Forestry Department

Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation,1981,Guide to Timber Trade in Sarawak,S.T.I.D.C. Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

Smith, D.N.,1959,The Natural Durability of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Record,No.30

Stadelman, R.C.,1966,Forests of South-East Asia,Wimmer Bros., Memphis Tennessee

Strugnell, E.J.,1931,Notes on woods for furniture making,Malaysian Forester 1 pp69-73

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

Thomas, A.V.,1932,Malayan timbers tested in a green condition,Malayan Forest Service Trade Leaflet No.5 (reprint from Malayan Forester,9(4) 1940)

Thomas, A.V.,1949,Malayan Timbers,The Malayan Forester 12 pp201-7

Timber Development Association Ltd.,1955,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Timber Development Association Ltd.

WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.

Whitmore, T.C. (Ed.,1972,Tree Flora of Malaya A Manual for Foresters Volume 1,Forest Department Ministry of Agriculture and Lands Malaysia