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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. 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 Luster Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Varnishing Scientific Name Isoptera borneensis Trade Name Balau Family Name Dipterocarpaceae Synonyms Shorea seminis Common Names Balau, Ballow, Chengal, Gisok-takpank, Larat api, Malayakal, Peniow, Ramoehoen, Selangan batu, Selangan batu terendak, Sengkawang, Tak pang, Tangkawang, Tengkawang, Tengkawang kalepek, Tengkawang pelepek, Tengkawang tanggoei, Tengkawang terindak, Thingan, Yacal, Yakal, Yakal-batu Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines Common Uses Axles, Boat building (general), Bridge construction, Heavy construction, Light construction, Mine timbers, Wharf construction, Wheel spokes, Wheels Heartwood Color Red Pink Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Greenish to greyish Dark brown Brown Sapwood Color Pink White to yellow Well defined Grain Even Interlocked Straight Interlocked Straight Texture Fine Fine Medium Fine to medium Luster Lustrous Natural Durability Durable Perishable Non-durable Moderately durable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to termites Resistant to powder post beetles Very durable Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Drying Defects Splitting Distortion Ease of Drying Slowly Rapidly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Naturally dries quickly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Bole length is 0-10 m Tree height is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 30-40 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Boring Fairly easy to very easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Difficult to plane Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Moderate working qualities Difficult to machine Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Varnishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu.ft Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Density 53 lbs/ft3 Weight 52 47 lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Density 849 kg/m3 References Ashton, P.S.,1964,A manual of the Dipterocarp trees of Brunei State,O.U.P. London 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. Martawijaya, A., Kadir, K., Kartasujana, I.,1986,Indonesian Wood Atlas. Vol.1.,Department of Forestry Agency for Forestry Research and Development.,Bogar-Indonesia Meijer, W., Wood, G.H.S.,1964,Dipterocarps of Sabah (North Borneo,Sabah Forest Department, Forest Record No.5 Reyes, L.J.,1938,Philippine Woods,Commonwealth of the Philippines Department of Agriculture and Commerce,Technical Bulletin,No.7 Tamesis, F., Aguilar, L.,1953,The 'Philippine mahogany' and other Dipterocarp woods,Philippine Department of Agriculture and Natural Research Popular Bulletin,No.44