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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 Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resin Content Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Silica Content Staining Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Balanocarpus heimii Trade Name Chengal Family Name Dipterocarpaceae Common Names Chengai, Chengai batu, Chengal, Chi-nga mas, Chingal, Karakong, Kong, Mindanao narek, Narek, Penak, Penak bunga, Penak lilin, Penak sabut, Penak tambaga, Takhian chan, Takhian chan ta maeo, Takian-chan, Takien chan, Taknian chan tamaeo, Tjengal Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Indonesia, Malaysia, Solomon Islands, Thailand Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Bridge construction, Building construction, Canoes, Casks, Construction, Cooperages, Crossties, Decks, Dockwork, Door, Factory construction, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Food containers, Furniture, Handles: general, Harbor work, Heavy construction, Joinery, Lifeboats, Light construction, Marine construction, Mathematical instruments, Mine timbers, Poles, Posts, Railroad ties, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Stakes, Tool handles, Utility poles, Vats, Vehicle parts Environmental Profile Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare within its range Distribution Overview Indomalesia (Malay peninsula), particularly in Thailand. Heartwood Color Brown Pink Green/grey Dark brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Greenish to greyish Purple Pale brown Brown Reddish brown Pale yellow brown with a distinct green tinge Exposure changes it to dark brown or dark reddish or purplish-brown Sapwood Color Brown White to yellow Well defined Pale yellow or white Clearly distinct from heartwood Grain Figure Interlocked Stripe (figure) Rippled (figure) Straight Even Closed Growth rings (figure) Wavy Interlocked Striped figure Rippled figure Straight Clear growth rings (figure) Wavy Interlocked slightly to moderately Texture Medium Fine Fine to medium Fine Medium Fine to medium and even Luster Lustrous Slightly lustrous Dull Natural Growth Defects Whitish deposits in vessels Often rotten, and may well contain a gallery from a large wood boring insect Natural Durability Durable Very durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Very resistant to decay Very resistant to attack by termites Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack by marine borers Strength properties are seldom affected by holes in wood by pinborer attacks Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Exceptional resistance to harmful effects of weather The living tree is usually attacked by pin-borers which leave small holes in the wood Odor No specific smell or taste Silica Content High Resin Content Has resin canals, arranged in tangential series Contains resin Resin canals are often filled with white resin and plugged with tyloses Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK=B US=T2C2/T2C1 Fr=2 T2-C2 (4/4) US Drying Defects Checking Distortion Expect resin/gum exudation Surface checking is a common drying degrade Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Ease of Drying Slowly Moderately Difficult to Difficult Difficult Easy Air drying recommended to precede kiln drying Air dries slowly with low shrinkage Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size The tree is large, with boles that are typically well-shaped and clear Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Good wearing qualitites, and is highly suited for industrial flooring Blunting Effect High to severe Slight blunting effect on cutting tools Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Fairly easy to very easy Easy Good boring qualitites Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Saws may become gummy from resin in the wood Low resistance to cutting Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good gluing properties Easy to glue Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Stable Retains shape well after seasoning Good dimensional stability and shows little movement in use Nailing Fair to Good Results Requires pre-boring Possible if prebored Accepts thin nails well Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Resin may adhere to tools Planes a smooth surfaces 20 degree angle is recommended to minimize torn grain in quartersawn stock containing interlocked material Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Extremely resistant to preservative treatment Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Responds well to hand tools Moderate working qualities Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Produces smooth surfaces Produces clean surfaces Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Easy to turn Painting Fair to Good Results Polishing Fair to Good Results Good results Satisfactory results Poor results Material takes a high polish Staining Stained effectively Finish is generally satisfactory Varnishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Requires care especially when resin is present Poor turning properties Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Hardness (side grain) = hard Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = very high Very high density Very heavy Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Max. crushing strength = very high Max. crushing strength = high Hard Compression strength (parallel to grain) = very high Bending strength (MOR) = high It is far stronger, for example, than Hard maple, White oak, or Teak. It is hard and superior to Teak and probably Mahogany Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 16950 23930 psi Density 56 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2247 lbs Impact Strength 47 53 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 8705 11664 psi Shearing Strength 2296 psi Static Bending 11084 12152 psi Stiffness 2459 2792 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 18 20 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.66 0.78 Weight 58 55 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Volumetric Shrinkage 11 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1191 1682 kg/cm2 Density 897 kg/m3 Hardness 1019 kg Impact Strength 119 134 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 612 820 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 161 kg/cm2 Static Bending 779 854 kg/cm2