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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 Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resin Content Resistance to Impregnation Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Silica Content Staining Steam Bending Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Dipterocarpus tonkinensis Trade Name Eng Family Name Dipterocarpaceae Common Names Angu, Apitong, Bebe, Dau, Eng, Heng, Huevos de gato, In, Keruing, Lagan, Lagunero, Mututi, Nogal falso, Palo de pollo, Pau sangua, Sangre, Sangre de drago, Sangrillo, Tro, Yang, Yaya sangre Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam Common Uses Beams, Boat building, Building construction, Cabin construction, Canoes, Concrete formwork, Construction, Core Stock, Crossties, Decks, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Domestic flooring, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Figured veneer, Flooring, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Heavy construction, Joists, Lifeboats, Light construction, Pallets, Parquet flooring, Plain veneer, Plywood, Porch columns, Railroad ties, Rough construction, Shipbuilding, Structural plywood, Sub-flooring, Utility plywood, Veneer Environmental Profile Vulnerable Extinct Abundant/Secure Endangered Status unknown due to inadequate information Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Dipterocarps consists of more than 70 species scattered throughout the Indo-Malayan region. The wood of all species in the genus is almost identical in structure. Differences in weight, hardness, and color are no greater than those found within individuals of the same species growing in different areas. They are usually mixed and marketed together under the trade name of Apitong (from the Philippines) or Keruing (from Malaysia). Timbers from Malaysia are the most variable in properties. Heartwood Color Brown Black Green/grey Reddish brown Pinkish tint Pinkish brown Orangish to pinkish Darkens with age Dark brown Color varies considerably Sapwood Color Yellow Green/Grey Pink Wide Grey Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Buff Grain Even Straight Interlocked Straight to shallowly interlocked Texture Medium Moderately coarse Luster High Medium Non-lustrous Dull Natural Durability Durable Susceptible to termite attack Susceptible to attack by marine borers Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Moderate resistance Heartwood resistance to decay varies by species Despite high silica content in some species, resistance to marine borers is low Odor Strong resinous smell associated with freshly cut wood No specific taste Silica Content Contains silica Some Dipterocarpus timbers contain silica in amounts that are generally less than 0.5% (of ovendry weight). A silica content of 0.05% is usually considered to be high enough to affect the machining properties of wood. Resin Content Discharges resin on to surfaces when dried at high temperatures Contains resin Toxicity Sawdust can cause skin irritation in some individuals Kiln Schedules T3 - D2 (4/4); T3 - D1 (8/4) US Schedule D - United Kingdom Drying Defects Checking Distortion Warping can be expected Drying at high temperatures may cause resin exudation Collapse Checking Ease of Drying Thick Stock Requires Care Fairly Easy Little degrade Requires special attention High shrinkage is common Difficult to season, especially thick or quartered stock Radial - 2.5 to 5.5% Shrinkage from Green to 12% MC Tangential - 7.5 to 11.5% Tree Size Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Tree has merchantable lengths of about 70 feet (21 m) Product Sources Some non-timber products include a somewhat viscous, liquid oleo-resin which is produced by some species in the genus. The resin is known as Minyak keruing in Malaysia and is used locally for caulking boats and for medicinal purposes. Pieces of rotten wood, well soaked in the resin are used as fire-lighters or torches. Blunting Effect Moderate Fairly severe blunting effect on cutters Dulling effect on cutting edges varies with silica content Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Moderate to saw Saw teeth blunted rapidly and severely by some stock Satisfactory sawing properties Tungsten carbide-tipped saws are recommended for seasoned material Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly difficult to glue Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good mortising properties Mortising and most woodworking properties are generally good, especially if the material is in the green condition and is straight-grained Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Large The timbers are reported to exhibit high shrinkage during drying, and are capable of rather large movement after manufacture Nailing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory nailing properties Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Straight grained and easy to work in most machining operations Special attention required Resin may clog equipment Timber with interlocked grain requires a reduced angle of 20 degrees in planing operations for best results Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Sapwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is moderately resistant Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Good sanding properties Extra care required for stock with high amounts of resin Screwing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Steam Bending Unsuitable Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor Painting High resin exudation makes painting/finishing difficult Painting, staining, varnishing, and other surface finishing treatments are generally difficult because of high resin content in most Dipterocarpus timbers. Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Resin exudation impacts polishing/finishing Staining Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9994 17939 psi Density 46 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1489 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 4773 9359 psi Stiffness 1700 2244 1000 psi Toughness 235 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.57 Weight 45 37. lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 702 1261 kg/cm2 Density 737 kg/m3 Hardness 675 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 335 658 kg/cm2 Stiffness 119 157 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 270 cm-kg Specific Gravity 0.57 References Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. HMSO. 1972. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. Keating, W.G., Bolza, E.,1982,Characteristics properties and uses of timbers. South East Asia, Northern,Australia and the Pacific,C.S.I.R.O. Div. Chemical Technology,Inkata Press,1