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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 Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Ochanostachys amentacea Trade Name Ampalang Family Name Olacaceae Common Names Ampalang, Basung, Empilung, Gai, Hampalung, Keitkel, Ketalen, Ketokal, Ketukal, Lembasung, Mancala, Merantai, Nahum, Petaling, Petatal, Petikal, Pilung, Pirong, Pitatar, Tanggal Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Malaysia Common Uses Boxes and crates, Bridge construction, Flooring, Furniture, Heavy construction, Light construction, Piling, Poles, Posts, Sporting Goods Heartwood Color Brown Red Black Reddish brown Purple Sapwood Color Green/Grey Red Brown White to yellow Pinkish Well defined Grain Interlocked Interlocked Texture Fine Fine Luster Lustrous Natural Growth Defects Yellowish deposits in vessels Whitish deposits in vessels Natural Durability Durable Susceptible to insect attack Moderately durable Non-resistant to termites Resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Moderately durable Durable Very durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Distortion Splitting Moderate spring/bow Moderate cupping Moderate surface checking Moderate end spitting Severe spring/bow Severe cupping Ease of Drying Difficult Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is fluted Bole/stem form is misshapen Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 0-10 m Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Easy Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Gluing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Mortising Finishes well Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Nails hold poorly Planing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is resistant Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is extremely resistant Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Sanding Good sanding finish Turning Good results Easy to turn Poor results Veneering Qualities There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits No steaming needed during bolt preparation. Good gluing qualities Easy to cut Painting Fair to Good Results Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Shrinkage, Radial = very small Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Max. crushing strength = high Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Hardness (side grain) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Density 55 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1658 lbs Impact Strength 28 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 6899 9945 psi Shearing Strength 2205 psi Stiffness 1358 1568 1000 psi Weight 54 43 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 4 % Item Green Dry Metric Density 881 kg/m3 Hardness 752 kg Impact Strength 71 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 485 699 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 155 kg/cm2 Stiffness 95 110 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 865 689 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % 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 Jackson, W.F.,1957,The Durability of Malayan Timbers,Malayan Forester,20,pp38-48 Lee, Y.H., Lopez, D.T.,1968,The Machining Properties of some Malayan Timbers,Malayan Forester,3,pp194-210 Malaysian Timber Industry Board,1986,100 Malaysian Timbers,The Malaysian Timber Industry Board Tamolang, F.N., Martawijaya, A., Kartasujana, I., Kadir, K., Parwira, S.,1992,Indonesian Wood Atlas Volume II,Department of Forestry, Agency for Forestry Research and Development,,Bogor-Indonesia Thomas, A.V., Browne, F.G.,1950,Notes on Air-Seasoning of Timber in Malaya,Malayan Forester 13(4) pp214-23 Thomas, A.V., Pillai, P.K.B.,1954,Shrinkage of Malayan timbers,Malayan Forester 17(4) pp208-9 Whitmore, T.C.,1973,Tree Flora of Malaya A Manual for Foresters Volume 2,Forest Department Ministry of Primary Industries Malaysia