Search for

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 Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Shorea siamensis Trade Name Burma sal Family Name Dipterocarpaceae Synonyms Pentacme malayana, Pentacme siamensis, Pentacme suavis, Pentacme tomentosa Common Names Burma sal, Burmese sal, Ca chac xanh, Ca dei, Cam lien, Cay ca chac, Cay cachac, Ceuri, Dam rang, Dom chhoeu reang phnomi, Eng yin, Eng-yin, Hang, Ingyin, Kres, Lak pao, Le-bong, Le-tho, Mai rang, Mai-pao, Mai-pau, Pao, Phnom rang phong, Rang, Rang khao, Reang, Reang phnom, Sal, Temak batu, Teng rang, Teng-rang, Wak, Wakbau Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building: framing, Bridge construction, Furniture, Heavy construction, Light construction, Mine timbers, Piling, Poles, Posts, Railroad ties, Vehicle parts Heartwood Color Brown Black Red Purple Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Reddish brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Green/Grey Red Pink Grain Interlocked Closed Figure Wavy Stripe (figure) Interlocked Wavy Striped figure Texture Fine Medium to coarse Fine Luster Dull Natural Durability Very durable Durable Resistant to termites Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to powder post beetles Very durable Durable Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Checking Moderate surface checking Slight surface checking Ease of Drying Slowly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Bole length is 0-10 m Tree height is 0-10 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect High to severe Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Pre-Boring Recommended Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to Work Difficult to machine Sanding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Max. crushing strength = high Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu.ft Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Hardness (side grain) = hard Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Max. crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = high Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shearing strength (parallel to grain)=very high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Hardness (side grain) = very hard Bending strength (MOR) = very high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 12665 19146 psi Density 49 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2473 lbs Impact Strength 34 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 5905 8762 psi Shearing Strength 2531 psi Stiffness 1748 2018 1000 psi Weight 48 43 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 890 1346 kg/cm2 Density 785 kg/m3 Hardness 1121 kg Impact Strength 86 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 415 616 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 177 kg/cm2 Stiffness 122 141 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 769 689 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % References Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 3 Southern Asia,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Chowdhury, K.A., Ghosh, S.S.,1958,Indian Woods: Their identification, properties and uses Vol. I,Dilleruaceae to Elaeocarpaceae,Manager of Publications, Delhi, India 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 Gamble, J.S.,1902,A Manual of Indian Timbers,Sampson Low, Marston & Co. London Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. 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. Pearson, R.S., Brown, H.P.,1932,Commercial Timbers of India,Govt. Printer Calcutta,2 vols Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T Smitinand, T., Et al,1980,A Manual of Diplerocarpaceae of Mainland South-East Asia,Forest Department, Thailand Sono, P.,1974,Merchantable Timbers of Thailand.,Forest Products Research Division, Royal Forest Department, Bangkok,,Thailand.