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Blunting Effect
Boring
Carving
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 Drying Rate
Kiln Schedules
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Natural Growth Defects
Numerical Data
Odor
Painting
Planing
Polishing
Product Sources
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Strength Properties
Substitutes
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities
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Common Names
Behra, Behru, Bella, Bharhul, Bhera, Bhiraa, Bhirwa, Bihiri, Bilgu, Billu, Burus, Buruta, Burutu, Ceylon satinwood, East Indian satinwood, Flowered satinwood, Ghiriya, Halda, Huragalli, Huragatu, Mahogany, Mashwal, Mududad, Mutirai, Purush, Sali, Satinwood, Sengel, Vari-maram
Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia
Countries of Distribution
[VIEW MAP]
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Axles, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Bobbins, Boxes and crates, Bridge construction, Broom handles, Brush backs & handles, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Decks, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles: general, Handles: woodworking tools, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Inlay work, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Marine construction, Matches, Mathematical instruments, Moldings, Office furniture, Ornamental work , Paneling, Picker sticks, Piling, Poles, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shade rollers, Shuttles, Specialty items, Spindles, Spools, Sporting Goods, Stencil & chisel blocks, Stools, Sucker rods, Tables , Tables, Textile equipment, Tool handles, Turnery, Umbrella handles , Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative, Wheel spokes, Wheels
Environmental Profile
| Vulnerable in parts of its natural habitat |
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| Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center |
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Distribution Overview
Central and southern India, Sir Lanka, and Ceylon. The species occurs in dry mixed evergreen or deciduous forest.
Heartwood Color
| Brown |
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| Yellow |
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| Red |
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| Purple |
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| Orange |
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| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange |
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| White to cream |
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| Pale brown |
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| Darkens with age |
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| Contains dark streaks |
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Sapwood Color
| Red |
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| Brown |
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| Yellow |
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| Same as heartwood |
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| White to yellow |
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| Clearly differentiated from the heartwood |
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Grain
| Figure |
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| Distinct (figure) |
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| Interlocked |
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| Mottled (figure) |
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| Even |
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| Closed |
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| Rippled (figure) |
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| Wavy |
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| Straight |
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| Ribbon (figure) |
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| Growth rings (figure) |
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| Roey (figure) |
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| Stripe (figure) |
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| Interlocked |
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| Distinct and very fine figure |
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| Distinct figure |
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| Mottled figure |
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| Rippled figure |
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| Wavy |
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| Striped figure |
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| Straight |
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| Roey figure |
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| Ribbon figure |
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| Narrowly interlocked and variegated |
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| Clear growth rings (figure) |
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The grain produces several attractive patterns including mottle, roey and ribbon, broken stripe, and 'bees wing' or cross mottled figure.
Texture
| Medium |
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| Fine |
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| Coarse |
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| Fine |
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| Uniform |
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Luster
| High |
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| Medium |
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| Pronounced |
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| Lustrous |
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| High |
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Natural Growth Defects
| Yellowish deposits in vessels |
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| Gum veins may be found |
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Natural Durability
| Durable |
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| Non-resistant to termites |
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| Susceptible to insect attack |
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| Perishable |
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| Non-durable |
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| Very durable |
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| Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) |
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| Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present |
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| Non durable |
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| Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) |
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| Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles |
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| Moderately durable |
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| Heartwood susceptible to marine borer attack |
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| Heartwood has very high natural resistnace to decay and other wood destroying organisms |
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| Heartwood has little resistance to termites in India |
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| Durable |
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Odor
| Has an odor |
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| Slight pleasant fragrance when cut |
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| No distinctive taste |
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Toxicity
| Dermatitic effects |
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| Unspecified toxicity |
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| Respiratory effects |
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Kiln Schedules
| UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 |
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| T3 - C2 (4/4) US |
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| T3 - C1 (8/4) US |
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| Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow |
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| Dry at a slow speed |
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Drying Defects
| Distortion |
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| Collapse |
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| Internal Honeycombing Possible |
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| Slight twist/warp |
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| Moderate surface checking |
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| Moderate twist/warp |
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Ease of Drying
| Fairly Easy |
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| Reconditioning Treatement |
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| Requires slow to moderate drying schedule. |
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| Kiln dries well |
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| Air-dries rather well |
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Kiln Drying Rate
| Very slow (>28 days for boards < 32 mm, to >84 days for boards >= 63 mm) |
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Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is straight |
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| Bole/stem form is cylindrical |
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Tree Size
| Tree height is 30-40 m |
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| Tree height is 10-20 m |
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| Tree height is 20-30 m |
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| Bole length is 10-20 m |
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| Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm |
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| Tree height is 50-60 m |
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| Tree height is 40-50 m |
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Product Sources
The timber has wide applications as veneer for inlays and decorative purposes, but it is only available in limited quantities in lumber form. Price is in the expensive range.
Substitutes
Teak, Mandioquera (Qualea paraensis ) and Tatajuba (Bagassa guianensis )
Blunting Effect
| Little |
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| Blunting effect on machining is severe |
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| Medium effect |
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Boring
| Fair to good results |
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| Fairly easy to very easy |
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| Very difficult |
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| Requires a strong hold to prevent chattering |
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Carving
| Fair to Good Results |
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| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Fairly difficult to carve |
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Cutting Resistance
| Easy to saw |
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| Difficult to saw |
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| Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult |
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Gluing
| Easy to glue |
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| Difficult to glue |
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Mortising
| Fair to Good Results |
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| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Finishes poorly |
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Moulding
| Fair to Good Results |
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| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Requires a firm hold to prevent chattering |
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| Poor moulding results |
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Movement in Service
| Excellent Stability - Small Movement |
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| Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement |
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| Stable |
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| Small |
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| Medium |
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Nailing
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Pre-boring recommended |
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| Holds nails well |
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| Easy to nail |
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Planing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Difficult to plane |
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| Torn grain common in quartersawn material |
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Resistance to Impregnation
| Resistant heartwood |
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| Resistant sapwood |
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| Heartwood is highly resistant |
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| Highly resistant |
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Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to Work |
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| Responds Readily |
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| Difficult to machine |
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| Easy to machine |
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Routing & Recessing
| Fair to Good Results |
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| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Secure hold recommended |
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| Routing is difficult |
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Sanding
| Fair to Good Results |
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| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Very difficult to sand |
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Screwing
| Pre-boring recommended |
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| Good screw holding properties |
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Turning
| Fair to Good Results |
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| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Easy to turn |
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| Good results |
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| Very easy to turn |
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Veneering Qualities
| Veneers easily |
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| Veneers moderately easy |
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| Suitable for peeling |
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Painting
Polishing
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Good results |
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Staining
| Finish is generally satisfactory |
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| Finish is generally good |
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Varnishing
| Fair to Good Results |
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| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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Strength Properties
| Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft. |
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| Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. |
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