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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
Kiln Drying Rate
Kiln Schedules
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Odor
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Silica Content
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Anisoptera curtisii

Trade Name
Palosapis

Family Name
Dipterocarpaceae

Common Names
Balau, Bayott, Bella rosa, Benchaloi, Dagang, Dagum, Duali, Ginsek, Kabaak thong, Kaban kaunghmu, Kaban-kaunghmu, Kagu pengiran, Kalamansanai, Kaunghmu, Keruing kuching, Keruing kucing, Krabaak, Krabaak daeng, Krabaak thong, Krabak, Krabak thong, Malagangau, Malai, Malangangau, Malapaho, Malopaho, Manapo, Masawe, Mascal wood, Mayapis, Mentasawa, Merakunyit, Mersaura paya, Mersawa, Mersawa kuning, Mersawa kunyit, Mesawa, Nengkong, Palosapis, Pik, Rengkong, Sanai, Tabaak, Ven ven

Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam

Common Uses
Beams, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boxes and crates, Canoes, Ceiling, Construction, Door, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Joists, Light construction, Millwork, Musical instruments , Packing cases, Planks, Plywood, Posts, Rafters, Railroad ties, Sheathing, Vehicle parts, Veneer

Environmental Profile

Abundant/Secure

Generally widespread, secure, and abundant within most of its range

Distribution Overview
Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia (Java, Kalimantan, Sumatra), Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak), Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam.

A large tree of semi-evergreen dipterocarp, evergreen and humid lowland forest that occurs on land which is at a premium for conversion to crops. In some areas it is an exceptionally rare tree and in the Philippines it is known from only one collection. It is a major commercial timber species and is used for general construction, veneer and plywood.

Heartwood Color

Yellow

Brown

Orange

Red

Black

Yellow to golden-yellow to orange

Pale brown

Dark brown

Yellow - light

Red

Light buff to yellowish brown

Darkens slightly upon exposure

Brown

Longitudinal surfaces are describes as typically featureless

Sapwood Color

White

Yellow

Brown

Red

Green/Grey

Green

Paler than heartwood

White to yellow

Seldom distinct from heartwood, especially when the wood is green

Discoloration by the sap-stain fungi sometimes define the sapwood clearly

Grain

Interlocked

Distinct (figure)

Figure

Even

Straight

Interlocked

Distinct figure

Straight to interlocked

Quartered surfaces are reported to exhibit a silver grain figure and a slight stripe produced by the broad rays

Texture

Medium

Coarse

Fine

Even or uniform

Uniform

Medium to coarse

Coarse

Moderately coarse

Fine

Fine to medium

Even textured

Luster

Low

Dull

Low

Natural Durability

Susceptible to insect attack

Moderately durable

Durable

Non-durable

Non-resistant to powder post beetles

Non-resistant to termites

Perishable

Moderately durable

Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles

Non durable

Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera)

Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack

Durable

Susceptible to termite attack

Susceptible to attack by fungi

Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles

Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree

Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log

Dries rather slowly. Prone to sap-stain

Odor

No specific smell or taste

Silica Content

High

Siliceous

Likely to have significant impact on machining

Contains high levels of silica (> 0.5% of dry weight)

Kiln Schedules

Dry at a slow speed

UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5

T6-D4(4/4);T3-D1(8/4) US Schedule E; United Kingdom

Careful and accurate determination of initial moisture content is highly recommended befoe kiln-drying

Drying Defects

Distortion

Discoloration

Checking

Slight twist/warp

Slight surface checking

Very little degrade in the form of slight distortion

Highly prone to sap-stain in the initial stages of drying

Ease of Drying

Moderately Difficult to Difficult

Fairly Easy

Slowly

Difficult

Prolonged conditioning period and regular moisture content checks control variable drying rates

Easy

Dries very slowly especially the core of thicker materials

Drying rate varies considerably within the species of Anisoptera.

Kiln Drying Rate

Naturally dries slowly

Tree Identification

Bole/stem form is buttressed

Bole/stem form is straight

Bole/stem form is cylindrical

Tree Size

Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm

Bole length is 20-30 m

Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm

Tree height is 40-50 m

Sapwood width is 0-5 cm

Sapwood width is 5-10 cm

Tree height is 30-40 m

Bole length is 10-20 m

Tree height is 50-60 m

Tree height is 60-70 m

Bark width is 20-25 mm

Bole length is 30-40 m

Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm

Boles are usually cylindrical and straight. Some Anisoptera trees are buttressed.

Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect

High to severe

Blunting effect on machining is severe

Cutting edges dull rapidly and severely because of interlocked grain and silica content

Boring

Fairly easy to very easy

Carving

Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Cutting Resistance

Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw

Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult

Saw teeth dull rather rapidly

Narrow bandsawing requires an increased tooth pitch

Gluing

Fair to Good Results

Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Good gluing properties

Easy to glue

Mortising

Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Moulding

Very Good to Excellent Results

Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Fair to Good Results

Good finishing results

Movement in Service

Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement

Moderate dimensional stability after seasoning

Nailing

Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Very Good to Excellent Results

Easy to nail

Good nail holding properties

Planing

Very Good to Excellent Results

Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Fair to Good Results

Reduced cutting angle of 20 degrees is recommended for best results

Planes well, to a good finish

Fibrous surfaces are common, especially with dull cutters

Fairly clean surfaces are possible with sharp cutters

Resistance to Impregnation

Resistant heartwood

Resistant sapwood

Heartwood is resistant

Moderately resistant to preservative treatment

Response to Hand Tools

Easy to Work

Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work

Rather difficult to work with hand tools due to interlocked grain and silica content

Easy to machine

Routing & Recessing

Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Screwing

Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Very Good to Excellent Results

Fair to Good Results

Good screwing properties

Easy to screw

Turning

Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Fairly easy to work in most machining operations to produce a smooth finish

Cutters tend to dull rather severely

Carbide tipped tools are recommended

Veneering Qualities

Suitable for slicing

Sliced for veneers

Steam Bending

Exudation

Tends to Degrade

Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult

Timber tends to buckle severely, even when supported and steaming is accompanied by high resin exudation

Poor steam bending characteristics

Polishing

Fair to Good Results

Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Satisfactory polishing characteristics

Staining

Fair to Good Results

Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Stains satisfactorily after surface preparation

Strength Properties

Resistance to shock loads=low

Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft.

Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.

Crushing strength = medium

Bending strength (MOR) = low

Density of timber from Burma is lower than average for the species.

Numerical Data

Item	Green	Dry	English

Bending Strength	7830	15040	psi
Density		42	lbs/ft3
Hardness		858	lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength	3935	7489	psi
Stiffness	1624	1989	1000 psi
Toughness		302	inch-lbs
Specific Gravity	0.47	0.52
Weight	41	34	lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage	4		%
Tangential Shrinkage	9		%
Volumetric Shrinkage	15		%

Item	Green	Dry	Metric

Bending Strength	550	1057	kg/cm2
Density		673	kg/m3
Hardness		389	kg
Maximum Crushing Strength	276	526	kg/cm2
Stiffness	114	139	1000 kg/cm2
Toughness		347	cm-kg
Specific Gravity	0.47	0.52
Weight	657	544	kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage	4		%
Tangential Shrinkage	9		%

References
Ashton, P.S.,1964,A manual of the Dipterocarp trees of Brunei State,O.U.P. London

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 4 South East Asia,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

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

Desch, H. E. 1957. Manual of Malayan Timbers - Volume I. Malayan Forest Records, No. 15. Malaya Publishing House Ltd., Singapore.

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

Fundter, J.M.,1982,Names for Dipterocarp timbers and trees from Asia,Pudoc, Wageningen, Netherlands

HMSO. 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

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

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

Lauricio, F. M., Bellosillo, S. B., The Mechanical and Related Properties of Philippine Woods, The Lumberman, 12(5):A-H

Lee, Y.H., et al,1974,Commercial Timbers of Peninsular Malaysia,Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Department of Forestry Peninsular Malaysia and,Malaysian Timber Industry Board

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

Menon, P.K.B.,1959,The wood anatomy of Malayan timbers: commercial timbers, 3. Light,hardwoods,Malaysian Forest Research Institute Kepong, Research Pamplet, No. 27.

Palosapis plywood is not recommended for concrete shuttering since it is reported to adversely affect the setting of concrete.

Plywood Properties

Reyes, L.J.,1938,Philippine Woods,Commonwealth of the Philippines Department of Agriculture and Commerce,Technical Bulletin,No.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 (WCMC, Plants Program, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.

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