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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Shorea kunstleri Trade Name Amang besi Family Name Dipterocarpaceae Common Names Amang besi, Ampereng, Angeh, Bakiring, Balau laut merah, Balau merah, Bangkirai tigu, Belau merah, Benoa, Benua, Benua babi, Benuas, Benuas lebar duan, Damar latu merah, Damar laut merah, Dumar dahirang, Empatah tanduk, Guijo, Jagaan, Jagan, Jingaan, Lalin, Mahadirang, Mahasulit, Malalung, Mempelam, Meranti abang, Meranti paang, Meranti pahang, Pangen, Pengitan, Red balau, Red meranti, Red selangan, Red selangan batu, Rentuing, Selangan merah, Selimbar, Seraya, Seraya kitan, Seraya sirap, Sering lemidin, Tengkawang batu, Tengkawang bukit, Terbak, Tuyang Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brunei, Malaysia Common Uses Boat building (general), Boat building: framing, Flooring, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Marine construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Posts, Railroad ties, Vehicle parts Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Heartwood Color Pink Red Purple Reddish brown Red Pale red to pink Brown Sapwood Color Red Grey Brown White to yellow Paler than heartwood Grain Interlocked Figure Distinct (figure) Interlocked Distinct figure Texture Coarse Coarse Luster High Medium Low Dull Natural Growth Defects Brittleheart is rare or absent. When present, it is sparse in amount Natural Durability Durable Moderately durable Very durable Durable Odor Has an odor Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Checking Distortion Moderate end spitting Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Slight end splitting Severe twisting/warping Severe end splitting Moderate twist/warp Ease of Drying Reconditioning Treatement Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 50-60 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Blunting effect on sawing green wood is severe Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fair to good results Fairly difficult to very difficult Fairly easy to very easy Easy Carving Fair to Good Results Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is variable Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Gluing Fair to Good Results Mortising Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Excellent Stability - Small Movement Nailing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Difficult to nail Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Easy to Work Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Screwing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Easy to turn Steam Bending Poor to Very Poor Results Tends to Degrade Poor Polishing Surface Preparation Fair to Good Results Staining Surface Preparation Fair to Good Results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu.ft Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Max. crushing strength = high Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = high Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = medium Hardness (side grain) = hard Bending strength (MOR) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 11442 17761 psi Density 49 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1987 lbs Impact Strength 41 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 5905 8762 psi Shearing Strength 1544 psi Stiffness 2136 2475 1000 psi Weight 48 43 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 804 1248 kg/cm2 Density 785 kg/m3 Hardness 901 kg Impact Strength 104 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 415 616 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 108 kg/cm2 Stiffness 150 174 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 769 689 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % References Ashton, P.S.,1964,A manual of the Dipterocarp trees of Brunei State,O.U.P. London Browne, F.G.,1955,Forest Trees of Sarawak and Brunei and their Products.,Government Printing Office, Kuching, Sarawak Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 4 South East Asia,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Burgess, P.F.,1966,Timbers of Sabah,Sabah Forest Record, no.6 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 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 Lee, Y.H., et al,1974,Commercial Timbers of Peninsular Malaysia,Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Department of Forestry Peninsular Malaysia and,Malaysian Timber Industry Board Lee, Y.H., Lopez, D.T.,1968,The Machining Properties of some Malayan Timbers,Malayan Forester,3,pp194-210 Meijer, W., Wood, G.H.S.,1964,Dipterocarps of Sabah (North Borneo,Sabah Forest Department, Forest Record No.5 Sweet, C.V.,1922,Further experiments in the air-seasoning of Indian timbers and general,recommendations as to seasoning methods.,Indian Forest Records IX part V, Delhi, India Symington, C.F.,1943,Foresters manual of Dipterocarps,Malaysia Forest Record,No.16 Thomas, A.V.,1935,Timber tests: Nemesy (Shorea pauciflora) and Damar laut merah (Shorea,kunstleri,Malayan Forester 4(1) pp30-6