Balau
Botanical names: Shorea spp. Principally S. glauca, S. laevis, S. albida, S. seminis, S. maxwelliana, S. astylosa.
Family name: Dipterocarpaceae
Local names: Selangan batu No.1, alan batu (mature wood), alan
bunga (juvenile wood), meraka, empenit, sengawan, alan (Sabah and Sarawak),
yakal, gisok (Philippines), belangeran (Borneo), empenit thitya (Burma),
chan, teng (Thailand), bangkirai (Indonesia), sen, ca-chac (Vietnam), yellow
balau.
Note: The name balau is also used for some species of Hopea
Tree description and natural occurrence
Medium to large hardwoods, often buttressed, with a straight cylindrical bole between 30 and 50 m long. These Shorea spp. grow across a diversity of site types in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.Wood appearance
Colour. Yellowish brown heartwood, sapwood distinctly paler.Grain. Varies from straight to interlocked. Interlocking grain produces striped figure on quarter-sawn material. Texture moderately coarse but even.
Wood properties
Density. 900 kg/m3 at 12 % moisture content; approximately 1.1 m3 of seasoned, sawn timber per tonne.Strength groups. S3 unseasoned, (SD3) seasoned.
Stress grades. F8, F11, F14, F17 (unseasoned); F14, F17, F22, F27 (seasoned) when visually stress-graded in accordance with AS2082-2000, 'Visually stress-graded hardwood for structural purposes'. Joint groups. J2 unseasoned; JD2 seasoned.
Shrinkage to 12% MC. Shrinkage rates varies considerably between species.
Unit shrinkage. Not available.
Durability above-ground. Class 1 - life expectancy >40 years.
Durability in-ground. Class 2 - life expectancy 15 to 25 years.
Lyctine susceptibility. Untreated sapwood is susceptible to lyctine borer attack.
Termite resistance. Not resistant.
Preservation. Sapwood readily accepts preservative impregnation.
Seasoning. Care required when drying to avoid splits, checks, and distortion.
Hardness. Hard (rated 2 on a 6 class scale) in relation to resistance and ease of working with hand tools.
Machining. Resinous material gums up cutting edges, otherwise relatively easy to machine and turn.
Fixing. Pre-boring recommended when nailing.
Gluing. As with most high-density species machining and surface preparation should be done immediately before gluing.
Finishing. Satisfactory in relation to painting, staining and polishing.
Uses
Engineering. Heavy engineering.Construction. Framing, flooring, decking, linings, joinery, fencing.
Decorative. Turnery.
Others. Boat building, vats, casks.
Identification features
General characteristicsSapwood. Well-defined and paler than heartwood.
Heartwood. Yellow brown, brown, reddish brown
Texture. Moderately coarse, even, grain interlocked, hard to cut across end grain; end cut generally shiny; both species show a degree of lustre on a dressed surface.
Wood structure Vessels. Mostly solitary with a few radial or oblique groups, medium size, even and diffuse distribution. Tyloses numerous. Vessel lines present.
Parenchyma. Apotracheal - consisting mainly of irregular spaced bands and occasional short tangential lines or diffuse strands. Paratracheal - often as incomplete vasicentric strands around the vessels, barely visible by hand lens, scant to well-defined aliform.
Rays. Fine, generally inconspicuous on the radial surface. Other features
Burning splinter test. A match size splinter burns to an ash.
Intercellular canals: Generally filled with white resin, smaller than the vessels, arranged in concentric formation. For information on technical terms consult Timber Species note No.1.
African Mahogany (Khaya Ivorensis)
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| Category | Green | Dry | Units |
| Weight | 40 | 31 | lbs/cu.ft. |
| Density (air-dry) | 32 | lbs/cu.ft. | |
| Specific Gravity | 0.44 | ||
| Hardness | 830 | lbs | |
| Stiffness | 1155 | 1391 | 1000 psi |
| Bending Strength | 7410 | 10735 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | 1505 | psi | |
| Max. Crushing Strength | 6460 | psi | |
| Work to Maximum Load | 7 | 8 | in-lbs/in3 |
| Radial Shrinkage (G->OD) | 3 | % | |
| Tangential Shrink. (G->OD) | 6 | % | |
| Volumetric Shrink (G->OD) |
Environmental Profile
The environmental status of this species within its natural growth range is given as unknown because of lack of information (Source - World Conservation Monitoring Center - 1992 ).
Distribution
The species is reported to be found in all the timber producing areas of West Africa, from Ivory Coast to Gabon and Cabinda, and is primarily found in the Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Nigeria. Unlike other Khaya species which do not require much rainfall, it is reported to grow in the rain forest in low-lying areas within its range.
Product Sources
Although the species makes up most of the African mahogany on the international market, it is usually sold in a mixture with other Khaya species including K. anthotheca , K. grandifoliola , and K. senegalensis. Origin of consignment can sometimes help identify specific Khaya species. This may be valuable since differences in some properties can be appreciable. Supplies in the lumber form are reported to be quite abundant, and can be found in a wide range of sizes at moderate prices. They are also available in plywood form from many lumber suppliers. African mahogany is reported to be frequently used to replace American mahogany because it is cheaper and more abundant, and can also be used for the same applications.
Tatajuba
Uses:
Wood used locally for general building purposes, heavy construction, furniture, boat construction. Because of its high resilience, it may be suitable for some type of sporting equipment. Wood is similar to black locust and could be used as a substitute for some applications.
Bagassa guianensis
Family: Moraceae
Bagasse
Tatajuba (Brazil)
Other Common Names: Cow-wood (Guyana), Gele bagasse (Surinam), Bagasse jaune (French Guiana), Amapa-rana (Brazil).
Distribution:
Rather infrequent occurrence in the Guianas and the Brazilian Amazon.
The Tree:
A large, well-formed, unbuttressed canopy tree with a flat, umbrella-shaped crown. The trees are generally 20 to 24 in. in diameter, and 90 to 100 ft in height. The bole is cylindrical and 60 to 70 ft high. Bark, when cut, yields large quantities of a sweet, sticky latex.
The Wood:
General Characteristics:Unseasoned heartwood: yellow, often streaked with brown, becoming lustrous golden-brown to russet on exposure; Sapwood: narrow, sharply demarcated, pale yellow to yellowish white; Grain: usually interlocked resulting in rather broad stripe; Texture: medium to coarse, moderately uniform; Odor and taste: odor and taste not distinctive when seasoned. Weight: basic specific gravity (ovendry weight/green volume) averages 0.68. Air- dry density averages 50 pcf.
Mechanical Properties:
(2-in. standard.)
| Moisture content(%) | Bending strength(psi) | Modulus of elasticity(1,000 psi) | Maximum crushing strength(psi) |
| Janka side hardness 1,670 lb for green wood and 1,730 lb for dry. Forest Products Laboratory toughness average for green and dry material is 196 in.-lb (5/8-in. specimen). | |||
| Green (74) | 14,510 | 2,300 | 7,900 |
| 12% | 20,050 | 2,580 | 11,560 |
Drying and Shrinkage: The wood air-seasons at a moderate rate with very little tendency to warp or check. No kiln schedules are available. Shrinkage green to ovendry: radial 5.2%; tangential 6.6%; volumetric 10.2%. Volumetric shrinkage is exceptionally low for a wood of this density.
Working Properties: Easy to saw and finishes smoothly.
Durability: Heartwood is reported to be very durable when exposed to either white-rot or brown-rot fungi; slightly resistant to marine borers. Weathering characteristics are considered poor.
Preservation: Heartwood is highly resistant to moisture absorption, comparable to teak in this respect, suggesting poor treatability.
Additional Reading: (46), (56), (74) 46. Longwood, F. R. 1962. Present and potential commercial timbers of the Caribbean. Agriculture Handbook No. 207. U.S. Department of Agriculture. 56. Record, S. J., and R. W. Hess. 1949. Timbers of the new world. Yale University Press, New Haven, Conn. 74. Wangaard, F. F., and A. F. Muschler. 1952. Properties and uses of tropical woods, III. Tropical Woods 98:1-190. From: Chudnoff, Martin. 1984. Tropical Timbers of the World. USDA Forest Service. Ag. Handbook No. 607.
Garapa
DESCRIPTION:
A fine-grained timber that is light yellow to a warm golden hue. Garapa is an exotic hardwood that is naturally resistant to rot, decay and insect attack. Garapa is naturally scratch resistant which allows the surface to remain smooth for many years. Average weight is 54 lbs. per cubic foot
BOTANICAL NAME:
Apuleia Leiocarpa
OTHER NAMES:
Brazilian Ash, Grapia, Amarealao, Marotoa, Muiratua, Muirajuba
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES:
This wood glues easily and once glued is very stabile. It saws, nails and screws well with little to no blunting effect on tools.
WORKING PROPERTIES:
This wood glues easily and once glued is very stabile. It saws, nails and screws well with little to no blunting effect on tools.
DURABILITY:
Great durability with a very high resistance to daily wear and tear. Garapa also features a Class A fire rating.
SEASONING:
As the wood weathers, it takes on light silvery gray tones. This natural process can be inhibited by using a sealer to keep its natural color.
USES:
Exterior jointery, carpentry, ship building, turned goods, furniture, flooring, stairs, tool handles, exterior decking.
COMMENTS:
Garapa is native to Brazil.
Macaranduba
Uses:
Heavy construction, textile and pulp mill equipment, furniture parts, turnery, tool handles, flooring, boat frames and other bent work, railway crossties, violin bows, billiard cues, and other specialty uses. Also well known for its yield of balata or gutta-percha collected from tapped trees. Manilkara bidentata
Family: Sapotaceae
Bulletwood Balata
Maçaranduba (Brazil)
Other Common Names:
Chicozapote (Mexico), Ausubo (Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic), Nispero
(Panama), Beefwood (Guyana), Bolletri (Surinam), Balata rouge (French
Guiana).
Distribution:
Widely distributed throughout the West Indies, Central America, and northern South America; occurs in many forest types and not exacting as to soil or topography. Locally frequent.
The Tree:
Well-formed tree reaching heights of 100 to 150 ft and diameters of 2 to 4 ft, occasionally up to 6 ft or more. Boles straight and clear to 60 ft, often basally swollen.The Wood:
General Characteristics:Heartwood: light to dark reddish brown, distinct but not sharply demarcated from the whitish or pale brown sapwood;
Grain: grain straight to occasionally slightly wavy or interlocked;
Texture: fine and uniform luster low to medium;
Odor and taste: odor and taste not distinctive;
Weight: Basic specific gravity (ovendry weight/green volume) 0.85; air-dry density 66 pcf.
Mechanical Properties: (First and third sets of data based on the 2-in. standard; second on the 1-in. standard.)
| Moisture content (%) | Bending strength (psi) | Modulus of elasticity (1,000 psi) | Maximum crushing strength (psi) |
| Janka side hardness 2,230 lb for green material and 3,190 lb at 12% moisture content. Forest Products Laboratory toughness average for green and dry material is 265 in.-lb (5/8-in. specimen). | |||
| Green (74) | 17,310 | 2,700 | 8,690 |
| 12% (24) | 27,280 | 3,450 | 11,640 |
| 12% (20) | 32,600 | NA | 15,200 |
Drying and Shrinkage:
Balata or bulletwood is generally reported to be a difficult wood to air-season, tending to develop severe checking and warp. However, if piled to assure a slow rate of drying, degrade can be kept to a minimum. A kiln schedule similar to T1-B1 has been suggested. Shrinkage green to ovendry: radial 6.3%; tangential 9.4%; volumetric 16.9%.
Working Properties:
The wood is moderately easy to work despite its high density, rated good to excellent in all operations. Gluing requires special care to acquire good bond. Steam-bending properties are rated excellent
.Durability:
Very resistant to attack by decay fungi; highly resistant to subterranean termites and moderately resistant to dry-wood termites. Not resistant to marine borer attack.
Preservation:
Has high resistance to absorption of moisture and is also highly resistant to preservation treatments.
Additional Reading: (20), (24), (46), (74) 20. Falla Ramirez, A. 1971. Resultados de los estudios fisico-mecanicos de 41 especies maderables de la region Carare-Opon. Plegable Divulgativo, Division Forestal. INDERENA, Bogata. 24. Food and Agriculture Organization. 1970. Estudio de preinversion para el desarrollo forestal de la Guyana Venezolana. lnforme final. Tomo III. Las madera del area del proyecto. FAO Report FAO/SF: 82 VEN 5. Rome. 46. Longwood, F. R. 1962. Present and potential commercial timbers of the Caribbean. Agriculture Handbook No. 207. U.S. Department of Agriculture. 74. Wangaard, F. F., and A. F. Muschler. 1952. Properties and uses of tropical woods, III. Tropical Woods 98:1-190. From: Chudnoff, Martin. 1984. Tropical Timbers of the World. USDA Forest Service. Ag. Handbook No. 607.
