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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 Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Natural Durability Numerical Data Painting Planing References Regions of Distribution Response to Hand Tools Scientific Name Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Aquilaria malaccensis Trade Name Agallochum Family Name Thymelaeaceae Common Names Agallochum, Agila wood, Alim, Aloes wood, Eagle wood, Gaharu, Halim, Karas, Kareh, Kayu gaharu, Kekaras, Kepang, Mengkaras, Tabak, Tangkaras, Tengkaras, Tuikaras Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brunei, Burma, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines Common Uses Boxes and crates, Chemical derivatives Heartwood Color Red Brown Purple White to cream Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Greenish to greyish Grain Even Straight Texture Fine Medium Medium Medium to coarse Coarse Natural Durability Very durable Durable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to termites Resistant to powder post beetles Non durable Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Perishable Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is fluted Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Blunting Effect Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Painting Satisfactory results Strength Properties Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Max. crushing strength = medium Max. crushing strength = low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Bending strength (MOR) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 4310 6606 psi Hardness 319 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 3027 5157 psi Shearing Strength 882 psi Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 303 464 kg/cm2 Hardness 144 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 212 362 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 62 kg/cm2 Radial Shrinkage 3 % References Browne, F.G.,1955,Forest Trees of Sarawak and Brunei and their Products.,Government Printing Office, Kuching, Sarawak 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 Kraemer, J.H.,1951,Trees of the Western Pacific Region,West Lafayette, Indiana U.S.A. Sarawak Forestry Department,1954,Trees and Timbers of Sarawak and Brunei,Sarawak Forestry Department Leaflet No.37 Tsumoto, T., Karasawa, H.,1975,The Properties of Tropical Woods 21,Government of Japan Forest Experimental Station Bulletin,No.227 Whitmore, T.C.,1973,Tree Flora of Malaya A Manual for Foresters Volume 2,Forest Department Ministry of Primary Industries Malaysia