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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 Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Chukrasia tabularis Trade Name Chickrassy Family Name Meliaceae Synonyms Chickrassia tabularis, Chickrassia velutina Common Names Agal, Agalai, Aglay, Arrodah, Boga poma, Boga porna, Burma almondwood, Chegarasi, Chickrassy, Chikrassi, Chittagong wood, Dal mara, Dalmara, Eleutharay, Ganti malle, Granti malle, Kaloti, Kinthat-putgyi, Kul hathuri, Lal devadari, Lal devderi, Madagiri vembu, Main, Mallei vepu, Pabba, Repoh, Saiphra, Sey barasi, Tawyinma, Vinma, Yinma Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam Common Uses Balusters, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Cooperages, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Mathematical instruments, Millwork, Moldings, Office furniture, Packing cases, Paneling , Paneling, Plywood, Plywood: veneer (marine), Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Stairworks, Stools, Stringers, Tables , Tables, Textile equipment, Toys, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vats, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Vulnerable in parts of its natural habitat Status unknown in many of its growth areas Rare in parts of its natural range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center The environmental profile of this species within its natural habitat in the Orissa State in India is classified as Rare. Its conservation category in Vietnam is Vulnerable. Its status in the wild is currently listed as unknown due to inadequate information in most areas in its range including, China, Myanmar or Burma, India, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka Distribution Overview Widely distributed in the moist tropical forests of South and Southeast Asia where it is a dominant canopy tree. In peninsular Malaysia, it occasionally occurs as a coloniser of bare lands. In the area of natural distribution it is found in the lowlands and up to 800 m altitude, in areas with 1400-4000 mm rainfall/year. Prefers annual rainfall of more than 2000 mm a year, although it tolerates as little as 850 mm but then growth is slow. It thrives in areas with uni- as well as bimodal rainfall regimes. Best growth when mean annual temperature is 20- 25°C and absolute minimum of 5-10°C. Outside its natural distribution it is grown in plantations in West and South Africa plus some Caribbean countries and Costa Rica.. Heartwood Color Yellow Brown Orange Red Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Reddish brown Brown Red Pale brown Dark brown Pale red to pink Golden brown with a reddish cast Darkens with age Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Pink White to yellow Well defined Grain Figure Distinct (figure) Interlocked Wavy Growth rings (figure) Straight Closed Even Other (figure) Fiddleback (figure) Mottled (figure) Irregular Interlocked Wavy Distinct figure Distinct and very fine figure Clear growth rings (figure) Straight Other figure Shallowly interlocked Mottled figure Irregular Figure shows fiddleback occasionally Texture Medium Fine Fine Fine to medium Medium Coarse Luster Medium High Pronounced Lustrous Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-durable Non-resistant to termites Perishable Non-resistant to marine borers Non durable Durable Very durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Perishable Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Moderately resistant to attack by termites Heartwood susceptible to marine borer attack Heartwood has very little resistance to decay Odor Slight pleasant fragrance when cut Seasoned wood has no odor or taste Kiln Schedules UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 T6 - D2 (4/4) US T3 - D1 (8/4) US Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Slight surface checking Slight twist/warp Slight collapse and honeycomb Moderate surface checking Ease of Drying Easy Controlled drying conditions will prevent rapid drying and yield best results. Careful stacking under cover is recommended, especially material containing irregular grain. Tree Identification Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Generally strong and hard with low stiffness Blunting Effect Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild Slight Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Good results Carving Easy to carve Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Gluing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Mortising Finishes satisfactorily Difficult to mortise Moulding Satisfactory moulding results Difficult to mould Movement in Service Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Excellent Stability - Small Movement Small Stable Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Easy to nail Holds nails well Good nailing properties Planing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Difficult to plane Good planing properties Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Permeable heartwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is highly resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Good response Routing & Recessing Routing yields good results Sanding Easy to sand Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Easy to screw Good screwing properties Turning Good results Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Veneers easily Suitable for slicing Veneers moderately easy Difficult to veneer Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling Softening in hot water improves peeling Seasons well Good gluing qualities Easy to cut Painting Fair to Good Results Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good results Satisfactory results Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Varnishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = medium Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Hardness (side grain) = soft Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Hardness (side grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate