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Blunting Effect
Comments
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Distribution Overview
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
Family Name
Gluing
Grain
Heartwood Color
Kiln Drying Rate
Kiln Schedules
Luster
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Size

Scientific Name
Lagerstroemia tomentosa

Trade Name
Bang-lang

Family Name
Lythraceae

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Bang-lang, Kamaungthwe, Leza, Leza wood, Pyinmapyu, Salao, Sralao

Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Burma, India

Common Uses
Boat building: framing, Chairs, Door, Flooring, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Paneling, Plywood, Poles, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Structural work, Tool handles, Vehicle parts

Distribution Overview
Indo-Malayan region including Indochina and extending into Indonesia and the Philippines; along rivers and on moist flat land; often cultivated as an ornamental.

Heartwood Color
Yellow
Brown
Purple
Green/grey
Orange
Reddish brown
Pale red to pink
Dark brown


Sapwood Color
Brown
Yellow
White to yellow
Different than heartwood


Grain
Even
Straight
Figure
Distinct (figure)

Straight
Distinct figure


Texture
Medium
Fine
Fine
Fine to medium


Luster
Medium
Low
Lustrous


Natural Durability
Non-durable
Perishable
Resistant to marine borers
Non-resistant to powder post beetles
Susceptible to insect attack
Moderately durable
Durable


Kiln Schedules
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid


Drying Defects
Internal Honeycombing Possible
Distortion
Collapse
Checking


Ease of Drying
Moderately Difficult to Difficult
Fairly Easy
Rapidly
Easy


Kiln Drying Rate
Naturally dries quickly
Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast
Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm)


Tree Size
Tree height is 10-20 m


Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect
Little


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


Gluing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Movement in Service
Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement


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


Planing
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


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


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to Work
Easy to machine


Screwing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Pre-boring recommended


Steam Bending
Fair to Good Results


Polishing
Fair to Good Results
Satisfactory results


Staining
Fair to Good Results


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


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength1064316517psi
Density40lbs/ft3
Hardness1326lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength57068526psi
Shearing Strength1989psi
Stiffness134715631000 psi
Weight3931lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage6%
Tangential Shrinkage10%
Volumetric Shrinkage8%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength7481161kg/cm2
Density641kg/m3
Hardness601kg
Maximum Crushing Strength401599kg/cm2
Shearing Strength139kg/cm2
Stiffness941091000 kg/cm2
Weight624496kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage6%
Tangential Shrinkage10%

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

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

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

Limaye, V.D.,1957,Grouping of Indian Timbers and Their Properties, Uses and Suitability.,Indian Forest Records (N.S. Timber Mechanics Vol.1 No.2)

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

Purkayastha, S.K.,1982,Indian woods: Their identifications, properties and uses, Vol. IV,Myrlacene to Symploceae,Controller of Publications, New Delhi

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

Sono, P.,1974,Merchantable Timbers of Thailand.,Forest Products Research Division, Royal Forest Department, Bangkok,,Thailand.