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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 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 Scientific Name Chloroxylon swietenia Trade Name Ceylon satinwood Family Name Rutaceae 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 Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview Central and southern India, Sir Lanka, and Ceylon. The species occurs in dry mixed evergreen or deciduous forest. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Red Purple Orange Yellow to golden-yellow to orange White to cream Pale brown Darkens with age Contains dark streaks Sapwood Color Red Brown Yellow Same as heartwood White to yellow Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Figure Distinct (figure) Interlocked Mottled (figure) Even Closed Rippled (figure) Wavy Straight Ribbon (figure) Growth rings (figure) Roey (figure) Stripe (figure) Interlocked Distinct and very fine figure Distinct figure Mottled figure Rippled figure Wavy Striped figure Straight Roey figure Ribbon figure Narrowly interlocked and variegated Clear growth rings (figure) The grain produces several attractive patterns including mottle, roey and ribbon, broken stripe, and 'bees wing' or cross mottled figure. Texture Medium Fine Coarse Fine Uniform Luster High Medium Pronounced Lustrous High Natural Growth Defects Yellowish deposits in vessels Gum veins may be found Natural Durability Durable Non-resistant to termites Susceptible to insect attack Perishable Non-durable Very durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Non durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately durable Heartwood susceptible to marine borer attack Heartwood has very high natural resistnace to decay and other wood destroying organisms Heartwood has little resistance to termites in India Durable Odor Has an odor Slight pleasant fragrance when cut No distinctive taste Toxicity Dermatitic effects Unspecified toxicity Respiratory effects Kiln Schedules UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 T3 - C2 (4/4) US T3 - C1 (8/4) US Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Distortion Collapse Internal Honeycombing Possible Slight twist/warp Moderate surface checking Moderate twist/warp Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Reconditioning Treatement Requires slow to moderate drying schedule. Kiln dries well Air-dries rather well Kiln Drying Rate Very slow (>28 days for boards < 32 mm, to >84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 50-60 m Tree height is 40-50 m 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 Blunting effect on machining is severe Medium effect Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Very difficult Requires a strong hold to prevent chattering Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly difficult to carve Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Gluing Easy to glue Difficult to glue Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Finishes poorly Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Requires a firm hold to prevent chattering Poor moulding results Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Stable Small Medium Nailing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Pre-boring recommended Holds nails well Easy to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Difficult to plane Torn grain common in quartersawn material Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is highly resistant Highly resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Difficult to machine Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Secure hold recommended Routing is difficult Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very difficult to sand Screwing Pre-boring recommended Good screw holding properties Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to turn Good results Very easy to turn Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy Suitable for peeling Painting Fair to Good Results Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Good results Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Finish is generally good Varnishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft.