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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 Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Endospermum spp. Trade Name Gubas Family Name Euphorbiaceae Common Names Ekor belangkas, Gubas, Kauvula, Sendok sendok, Sesendok, Terbulan Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines Common Uses Balusters, Bent Parts, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Construction, Decorative plywood, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Fine furniture, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Hatracks, Interior construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Matchboxes, Matches, Moldings, Office furniture, Packing cases, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Stairworks, Stools, Stringers, Utility furniture, Wardrobes, Wooden shoes, Woodwork Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Malaya, Philippines, New Guinea, Fiji and other western Pacific islands. Common in lowland forests, especially in secondary growth (Malaya). Heartwood Color Brown Red Black Purple Green/grey Straw colored Pale cream Light brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Even Straight Interlocked Straight to interlocked Straight to shallowly interlocked grain. Texture Coarse Medium Coarse Luster High Medium Lustrous Natural Durability Resistant to termites Durable Moderately durable Susceptible to insect attack Perishable Non-durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Resistant to powder post beetles Very little natural resistance Susceptible to blue stain Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules Schedule J (4/4) United Kingdom 10 - D5s (4/4); T8 - D4s (8/4) US Drying Defects Distortion Splitting Checking Warping can be expected Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Radial and tangential shrinkage from 4-7% Radial and tangential shrinkage from 1-2% Dries at a fairly rapid rate Degrade when tension wood is present Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Naturally dries slowly Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Trunk diameter is 300-350 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 20-30 m Bark width is 30-40 mm Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 50-60 m Bark width is 25-30 mm Bark width is 20-25 mm Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Product Sources Supplies from Fiji are available in very limited quanties on the European market. The wood is considered too soft for general joinery work, but it is well suited for small accurate mouldings. Prices are in the same range as those of lower cost hardwoods. Comments Abnormal Wood Tissue Tension wood may be present Blunting Effect Moderate Little Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Easy to saw Slightly rough in material with tension grain Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Stable Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Easily treated, using the open tank or pressure systems Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Responds Readily Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor to Very Poor Results Very Good to Excellent Results Veneering Qualities Veneers moderately easy Suitable for peeling Suitable for slicing Veneers easily Polishing Fair to Good Results Good results Strength Properties Surfaces may dent easily Soft Compression strength (parallel to grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7448 110651 psi Crushing Strength 505 902 psi Density 29 lbs/ft3 Hardness 652 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 3536 6184 psi Shearing Strength 1245 psi Static Bending 4047 6399 psi Stiffness 1490 1539 1000 psi Toughness 80 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.34 Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 523 7779 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 35 63 kg/cm2 Density 464 kg/m3 Hardness 295 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 248 434 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 87 kg/cm2 Static Bending 284 449 kg/cm2 Stiffness 104 108 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 92 cm-kg References Bolza, E., Kloot, N.H.,1972,The Mechanical Properties of 56 Fijian Timbers,Australia C.S.I.R.O. Division of Forest Products Technological Paper,No.,62 British Woodworking Federation. 1995. Which Wood . Published by the British Woodworking Federation, Broadway House, Tothill Street, London. Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.