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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 Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Eusideroxylon zwageri Trade Name Belian Family Name Lauraceae Common Names Abuin, Balian, Belian, Belian bulch, Belian buloh, Belian griting, Belian kapur, Belian tembaga, Belian wi, Bilian, Billan, Billian, Boelian, Bois de fer de Borneo, Borneo eisenholz, Borneo ironwood, Borneo's ijzerhout, Borneo-jarntra, Borneosch ijerhout, Bulian, Bulian rambai, Caju baelian, Ijzerhout, Im muk, Kajo taha, Kajoe besi, Kayu besi, Ku an tin, Ku'an tin, Lampahoeng, Legno ferro del Borneo, Melangganai, Oelin, Onglen, Palembangs ijzerhout, Palo de hierro de Borneo, Sakian, Tadien, Tambulian, Tanoedlen, Tebelian, Telian, Terbelian, Tulian, Ulin, Yam muk Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Office furniture, Pile-driver cushions, Piling, Poles, Posts, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shafts/Handles, Shingles, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Stools, Structural work, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Wharf construction Environmental Profile Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare within significant parts of its range Considered vulnerable in its natural habitat because its numbers are threatened by serious adverse factors throughout its range. However, the species likely exists today in relatively large numbers. Distribution Overview Throughout the lowlands of Sabah extending into the remainder of Borneo, other Indonesian islands, and the Philippines; occasionally abundant. Heartwood Color White Yellow Red Brown Green/grey Orange Reddish brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Dark brown Brown Pale brown Light brown Black Sapwood Color Red Yellow White White to yellow Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Bright yellow when first cut, darkens upon exposure Grain Straight Interlocked Even Figure Weak (figure) Generally straight, but not always Interlocked Weak figure Generally unfigured. Texture Coarse Fine to medium Fine Medium coarse Even textured Luster Low Lustrous Slightly lustrous Natural Growth Defects Latex or other ducts Gum and mineral deposits Brittleheart is rare or absent. When present, it is sparse in amount Natural Durability Perishable Very durable Very durable Resistant to attack from marine borers Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from pinworms (ambrosia beetles) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Heartwood has exceptional natural durability and can last for 50 to 100 years in ground contact It is immune to termites but is susceptible to attack by marine borers. Odor No distinct taste Lemon-Like scent is persistent even in seasoned material Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK=B US=T2C2/T2C1 Fr=2 Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid 2 - C2 (4/4); T2 - C1 (8/4) US Drying Defects Distortion Checking Moderate surface checking Slight surface checking Slight twist/warp Slight end splitting Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Easy Figure Occurrence is variable Drying properties are reported to vary with origin of the timber, but it generally seasons easily with little degrade. Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Fluted Buttressed Tree Size Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 40-50 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Wood contains oil cells Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe Blunting effect on machining is severe Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Fairly easy to very easy Easy Described as very hard and heavy Bores cleanly at slow speed Carving Wood is heavy and hard Fairly good response to preservative treatment Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Easy to saw Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Saw teeth tend dull rapidly and become accumulated with oil deposits Gluing Difficult to glue Responds poorly to synthetic resin glues Mortising Fair to Good Results Material is Hard and Heavy Good mortising properties Moulding Poor to Very Poor Results Good moulding properties Movement in Service Small Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Pre-boring recommended Difficult to nail Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane The timber is described as hard and heavy, but it is reported that it responds readily to planing. Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Permeable heartwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Difficult to machine Responds well to hand tools Moderate working qualities Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Good in both routing and recessing. Sanding Good sanding finish Contains alkaloids giving it good acid resistance Screwing Possible if prebored Turning Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Good gluing qualities Easy to cut Painting Satisfactory results Good results Polishing Satisfactory results Responds smoothly with care Staining Stains well Found locally, even abundantly, at some of its locations, but in a restricted range Finish is generally satisfactory Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 61< Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Hardness (side grain) = Hard Max crushing strength (stiffness) = very high Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Density (dry weight) = 53-60 Toughness -hammer drop = medium Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Max. crushing strength = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 20494 27194 psi Density 62 lbs/ft3 Hardness 3010 lbs Impact Strength 40 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 10565 13205 psi Shearing Strength 2877 psi Stiffness 2539 2803 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.81 Weight 61 50 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 11 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1440 1911 kg/cm2 Density 993 kg/m3 Hardness 1365 kg Impact Strength 101 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 742 928 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 202 kg/cm2 Stiffness 178 197 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.81 Weight 977 801 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % References Browne, F.G.,1955,Forest Trees of Sarawak and Brunei and their Products.,Government Printing Office, Kuching, Sarawak Burgess, P.F.,1966,Timbers of Sabah,Sabah Forest Record, no.6 Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1954,Hardwoods for Industrial Flooring,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Leaflet, No.48 Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1970,Report on a consignment of Belian (Eusideroxylon zwageri) from Sabah,Department of Trade and Industry, Forest Products Research Laboratory,,Princes Risborough, Report on overseas timber 14, F.P.R.L. consignment,No.1370 France - C.T.F.T.,1973,Investigations and Tests carried out on Tropical Timber by several,Research Laboratories,CTFT Kartasujana, I., Martawijaya, A.,1973,Commercial Woods of Indonesia,Forest Products Research Institute, Department Pertanian, Bogor Indonesia,Report No.3 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 Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12 Koopman, M.J.F., Verhoef, L.,1938,The Ironwood of Borneo and Sumatra,Tectona 31(6) pp381-99 Kraemer, J.H.,1951,Trees of the Western Pacific Region,West Lafayette, Indiana U.S.A. Lavers, G.M.,1983,The Strength Properties of Timber (3rd ed. revised Moore G.L.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Report (formerly Bulletin No.50) Malaysian Timber Industry Board,1986,100 Malaysian Timbers,The Malaysian Timber Industry Board Reyes, L.J.,1938,Philippine Woods,Commonwealth of the Philippines Department of Agriculture and Commerce,Technical Bulletin,No.7 Sarawak - Borneo Lit.Bureau,1961,Common Sarawak timbers,Borneo Lit. Bureau for Sarawak Forestry Department Sarawak Forest Department,1954,Trees and timbers of Sarawak and Brunei - Family Lauraceae,Sarawak Forestry Department Leaflet No.33 Smythies, B.E.,1965,Common Sarawak Trees,Borneo Literature Bureau Stadelman, R.C.,1966,Forests of South-East Asia,Wimmer Bros., Memphis Tennessee Tamolang, F.N., Martawijaya, A., Kartasujana, I., Kadir, K., Parwira, S.,1992,Indonesian Wood Atlas Volume II,Department of Forestry, Agency for Forestry Research and Development,,Bogor-Indonesia Walker, F.S.,1941,Resistance of Timbers to Marine Borer Attack,Malayan Forester 10(4) pp145-9 WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center - Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.