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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
Environmental Profile
Family Name
Gluing
Grain
Heartwood Color
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Size
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Pterocarpus marsupium

Trade Name
Bijasal

Family Name
Dipterocarpaceae

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Angu, Bebe, Bijasal, Huevos de gato, Indian Padauk, Lagunero, Mututi, Nogal falso, Padauk, Palo de pollo, Pau sangua, Sangre, Sangre de drago, Sangrillo, Yaya sangre

Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
India

Common Uses
Beams, Building construction, Cabin construction, Clogs, Concrete formwork, Construction, Crossties, Decks, Factory construction, Farm vehicles, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Handles, Heavy construction, Joists, Light construction, Porch columns, Railroad ties, Rough construction, Shafts/Handles, Structural work, Tool handles, Wheel spokes, Wheels , Windows

Environmental Profile
Status has not been officially assessed


Distribution Overview
The genus Pterocarpus consists of over 60 species of small and large trees that occur widely in the tropics. Pterocarpus marsupium is widely distributed in Central and South India, mainly on hilly areas at altitudes of 490 to 1475 feet (150 to 450 m), but occasionally reaching up to 3270 feet (1000 m) or more. It is found also in Orissa and Bihar and extends eastwards to the sub-Himalayan tract up to Kumaon.

Heartwood Color
White
Brown
Red
Tan
Reddish brown
Golden brown
Darkens upon exposure
Contains dark streaks


Sapwood Color
White to yellow
Well defined


Grain
Interlocked

Moderately interlocked


Texture
Coarse
Medium
Medium


Natural Durability
Very good weathering properties
Sapwood is susceptible to wood broing insects
Heartwood is very durable


Drying Defects
Checking
Ring Shakes
Slight twist/warp
Slight surface checking
Slight end splitting

It is prone to staining and should be be kept immersed in water for some time time to leach out the yellow dye before seasoning. Kiln-drying is rather easy, and also improves the color

Ease of Drying
Fairly Easy
Green conversion and stacking in open piles is recommended
Dries well

The herat of logs should be boxed out, since it tends to degrade considerably during drying.

Tree Size
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm


Comments
The timber is reported to contain a dye which dissolves readily in cold water to stain the a wood yellowish color, and also impart a characteristic yellowish-blue flourescence to the water

Wood contains yellow dye

Blunting Effect
Abrasive material in pores may dull cutting edges


Boring
Fairly easy to very easy


Carving
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Surfaces tend to be woolly
Easy to saw


Gluing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Mortising
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Moulding
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Movement in Service
Interlocked slightly to moderately

Less stable than Andaman padauk

Nailing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Planing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Planes to a poor finish
Easy to plane
Areas of interlocked grain may cause tearing
Abrasives in vessels dull cutting edges rapidly


Resistance to Impregnation
Permeable sapwood
Permeable heartwood
Sapwood is permeable
Heartwood is highly resistant


Sanding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Veneering Qualities
Suitable for slicing
Rotary cutting is not recommended due interlocked grain and aberasive material


Steam Bending
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Good


Polishing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Good results


Staining
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Varnishing
Heavy varnish used to prevent discoloration and staining in contact with water


Strength Properties
Very heavy
Density = high
Compression strength (parallel to grain) = very high
Bending strength (MOR) = very high


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength1038419227psi
Density49lbs/ft3
Impact Strength5041inches
Maximum Crushing Strength50879523psi
Stiffness142918661000 psi
Specific Gravity0.650.69
Weight5848lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage4%
Tangential Shrinkage6%
Volumetric Shrinkage10%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength7301351kg/cm2
Density785kg/m3
Impact Strength126104cm
Maximum Crushing Strength357669kg/cm2
Stiffness1001311000 kg/cm2
Specific Gravity0.650.69
Weight929769kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage4%
Tangential Shrinkage6%

References
Limaye, V.D. 1954. Grouping of Indian Timbers and their Properties, Uses and Suitability. Indian Forest Records, New Series. Timber Mechanics, Vol. 1, No. 2, Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, India.

Limaye, V.D. and B.R. Sen. 1953. Weights and Specific Gravities of Indian Woods. Indian Forest Records, New Series. Timber Mechanics, Vol. 1, No. 4, Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, India.

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.