Go Green, Go Sustainable

LIGHT HARDWOOD

MERSAWA (Anisoptera spp.)

General Description : Sapwood is not well defined. The heartwood is light yellow-brown sometimes with a rose coloured tinge darkening slightly on exposure to a straw-brown. The surface is without lustre or figure. The grain is interlocked and texture moderately coarse and even. Occasionally, end surfaces show resin canals with white contents in concentric lines, but the wood is not resinous.

Principal Uses : Light construction, door and window frames, partition boards, weather boards, flooring, ceiling, scantlings, coffins, sliced veneers, plywood.

Veneering : It is an established species for plywood manufacture.

Other Equivalents: Burma (Kaban), India (Kaunghmu), Indochina (Ven-ven), Indonesia (Mersawa), Philippines (Afu, Palosapsis, Dagang), Sabah (Pengiran), Sarawak (Mersawa), Thailand (Kabak, Krabak, Pik)

Kiln Drying Schedule : E

Weight : 641 kg/m3 Strength Group : C

NYATOH (Sapotaceae spp.)

General Description : The sapwood is moderately sharply defined. The heartwood is light pink-brown or reddish-brown in colour losing much of the reddish tinge with exposure. Surface is not lustrous but is often attractively streaked. The grain is interlocked and wavy and texture moderately find and even.

Principal Uses : Beams, rafters, joists, door and window frames, scantlings, flooring, ceiling, boat framing and planking, joinery, furniture, rotary veneer and plywood.

Veneering: Peels moderately easy.

Other Equivalents : West Africa (Douka), India (Pali, Pala, Kaipala), Indonesia (Njatuh), Philippines (Malak malak, Nato), Sabah (Nyatoh), Sarawak (Jankar, Nyatoh), Sri Lanka (Kirihembiliya, Tawenna), Thailand (Chik nom, Chit nom, Tabun dam)

Kiln Drying Schedule : E

Weight : 721 kg/m3 Strength Group : C

PENARAHAN (Myristicaceae spp.)

General Description : Sapwood is not well defined. The heartwood is light brown with a pink coloured tinge but occasionally, there is a distinctively coloured corewood of chocolate-red colour. Surface has slight lustre and is faintly streaked. The grain is fairly straight and texture moderately fine and even.

Principal Uses : Match boxes and splints, pattern making, manual training, temporary light construction, packing cases, crates, plywood.

Veneering : Peels easily and gluability is good. Used widely in the manufacture of low quality plywood.

Other Equivalents : India (Chuglam), Indochina (Mau-cho, Sang mau), Philippines (Ananiog, Duguan, Tambalau), Sabah (Darah-darah), Sarawak (Kumbang), Sri Lanka (Iriya, Ruk, Malaboda), Thailand (Laud kwai)

Weight : 593 kg/m3 Strength Group : C

PERUPOK (Lophopetalum spp)

General Description : Sapwood not differentiated from heartwood by colour, wood straw-coloured when freshly cut, weathering to a light brown. Planed surface with medium lustre, texture moderately fine and even. Grain interlocked.

Principal Uses : Beams, joists, rafters, door and window frames, rotary veneer, panelling, furniture, flooring, fancy boxes, instrument boxes, T-squares, set-squares, straight edges, rulers, trays and plywood.

Other Equivalents : Burma (Tuang-yemane, Yemane apyu, Mondaing), India (Banati, Balpale), Indochina (Sang-trang), Indonesia (Perupok), Sabah (Perupok), Sarawak (Perupok), Thailand (Seng sa, Song sa)

PULAI (Alstonia spp.) Weight : 465 kgs. per cu. metre

Strength Group : D

General Description: Sapwood is not differentiated from heartwood which is almost white in colour when fresh, weathering to a cream white shade. The surface is lustrous and without any figure. The grain is interlocked and texture moderately coarse and even.

Principal Uses : Pattern making, fret work, carving, picture frames, drawing boards, blackboards, toys, match boxes and splints, packing cases, crates, coffins, manual training, etc. A good substitute for Jelutong. Veneering: Peeled veneers produce unsatisfactory appearance.
Other Equivalents: West Africa (Emien, Alstona), Burma (Lettok), India (Shaiten wood), Indonesia (Pulai), Indochina (Mop, Mocua), Phlippines (Dita), Sabah (Pulai), Sarawak (Pulai), Sri Lanka (Ruk katana), Thailand (Thia, Tin pet)

Weight : 561 kg/m3 Strength Group : B

RAMIN (Gonystylus bancanus)

General Description : Sapwood not differentiated from heartwood which is almost white when freshly cut, weathering to a pale straw. The surface is lustrous but there is no figure. The grain is slightly interlocked and texture moderately fine and even.

Principal Uses : Pale furniture, interior joinery, flooring, ceiling, panelling, door and window frames, stringers and stair treads, T-squares, set squares, rulers, tripods, straight edges, trays, handles of non-striking tools, brushbacks, toys, turnery, plywood. Veneering: The timber is widely used for the manufacture of plywood.

Other Equivalents : Indonesia (Garu buaja), Philippines (Lanuatan bagio), Sabah (Ramin, Bidaru), Sarawak (Ramin)

Kiln Drying Schedule : C (If thickness exceeds 1.5 inches use Schedule B)

Weight : 625kg/m3 Strength Group : C

SESENDOK (Endospermum malaccense)

General Description : Sapwood not differentiated by colour from heartwood which is bright yellow with a greenish tinge when fresh, weathering to a light straw colour. the surface is lustrous but without figure. The grain is straight or only shallowly interlocked and the texture is coarse and even.

Principal Uses : Match boxes and splints, pattern making, drawing boards, blackboards, trays, furniture, parts, plywood chests, packing cases, crates, coffins, toys, manual training etc. It is one of the favourite timbers for clog manufacturers.

Veneering : It is suitable for manufacture of low quality plywood.

Other Equivalents : Philippines (Gubas), Sabah (Sesendok), Sarawak (Terbulan)

Weight : 529 kg/m3 Strength Group : D

TERAP (Artocarpus elasticus)

General Description : Sapwood is well defined in A. elasticus and A. scortichinii but not in Parartocarpus triandra. The heartwood of Artocarpus spp. is orange-brown, weathering to a darker shade. That of Parartocarpus triandra is light yellow, weathering to a light yellow-brown. Surface moderately lustrous but without figure. The grain is very interlocked and texture moderately coarse and even.

Principal Uses : General light construction, planking, pattern making, handles of non-striking tools, boxes, coffins, crates, manual training, plywood, etc. Occasionally, the timber is very attractively figured and very suitable for superior joinery, furniture, panelling, trays and other decorative work.

Other Equivalents : India (Aini), Indochina (Sui), Indonesia (Terap), Philippines (Antipolo), Sabah (Terap), Sarawak (Pudau), Sri Lanka (Riti)

Weight : 577 kg/m3 Strength Group : C

TERENTANG (Campnosperma spp.)

General Description : Sapwood is not differentiated by colour from heartwood which is grey salmon-pink, not very different after weathering. Surface not lustrous but has an attractive speckled appearance. The grain is interlocked and texture fine and even.

Principal Uses : Match boxes and splints, blackboards, drawing boards, packing cases, crates, plywood and planking. It will probably make good coffins, cigar boxes, instrument boxes and plywood chests for packing tea and rubber.

Veneering : Peels satisfactorily but the veneer faces are hairy and fuzzy.

Other Equivalents : Indonesia (Terentang), Sabah (Terentang), Sarawak (Terentang), Sri Lanka (Aridda)

Weight : 432 kg/m3 Strength Group : D