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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 Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Gonystylus bancanus Trade Name Ramin Family Name Thymelaeaceae Common Names Ahmin, Asana, Badiako, Busilak, Claro, Gaharu, Gaharu buaya, Garu buaja, Garu buaya, Gerima, Gisok-babae, Gisok-puti, Lanutan bagio, Lanutan-bagio, Lapis kulit, Mala-apdo, Malagopinai, Malanagka, Malanangka, Manggasinoro, Medang keladi, Medang ramuan, Melawis, Menamang, Merang, Nangkaon, Panaguraring, Pandit, Panggatutup, Pinang baek, Pulai miang, Ramin, Ramin melawis, Ramin telur, Salasa-ai, Sepetis Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines Common Uses Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Broom handles, Brush backs & handles, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Door, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory flooring, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles, Handles: general, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Mathematical instruments, Moldings, Office furniture, Paneling , Paneling, Parquet flooring, Picture frames, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shafts/Handles, Sporting Goods, Stools, Sub-flooring, Tables , Tool handles, Toys, Turnery Environmental Profile Status unsure as a result of insufficient information Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare in some parts of its natural range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Endangered within its natural habitat in Indonesia. It is Vulnerable in the Philippines and Malaysia, and its status in rthe wild is currently listed as unknown because of inadequate information in Borneo, Sumatra, and Sarawak Distribution Overview Brunei, Indonesia (Kalimantan, Sumatra) and Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak). G. bancanus differs from other species in the genus in being a peat-swamp species. Habitats are lowland freshwater swamp and coastal peat-swamp forest including peripheral mixed swamp forest and Shorea albida forest. Also found in heath forest. G. bancanus grows at altitudes up to 100m. In Peninsular Malaysia peat swamp forest occurs in low-lying plains just behind the coast, mainly in the central and southern parts of the peninsula.  On the west coast the peat forests occur on heavy alluvial clay, whereas on the east coast they occur on coarse sand and white clay.  Large areas of peat swamp forest  have  been  cleared  for  agriculture,  with  extensive  development  of  oil  palm  and  pineapple plantations. Peat swamp forests are widespread in Sarawak, accounting for 14 736 km2 or 11.9% of the land area. Some conversion to rice and pineapple fields, and coconut and sago plantations has taken place but so far on a relatively small scale.  Timber production has been the main use of the forests. The only extensive area of peat swamp with Gonystylus in Sabah is located in the south-west region. G.  bancanus  occurs  in  Indonesian  peat  swamp  forests  of  Sumatra,  Kalimantan  and  Irian  Jaya. Estimates of the total peat area in Sumatra and Kalimantan vary between 16.5 and 27 million ha.  The species is also a component of freshwater swamp forests in the lowlands of Sumatra, Kalimantan and Irian Jaya. Heartwood Color White Green/grey White to cream Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Straw brown Pale red to pink Sapwood Color Same as heartwood White to yellow Paler than heartwood The sapwood is not indistinguishable from the heartwood. Grain Straight Interlocked Figure Weak (figure) Closed Even Growth rings (figure) Straight Interlocked Weak figure Shallowly interlocked Clear growth rings (figure) The wood is typically without any outstanding features. Texture Coarse Medium Fine to medium Fine Medium The wood usually has several, widely spaced large vessels which appear as fine brown lines on the surface, and impart a subtly attractive figure. Luster Medium Dull Slightly lustrous Lustrous Low Although the wood has a low surface luster, the wavy grain sometimes refracts light to give the wood a rich, transluscent quality. Natural Growth Defects Brittleheart is rare or absent. When present, it is sparse in amount Natural Durability Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Perishable Non durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Susceptible to marine borer attack Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Pinworm (ambrosia beetle) often present in the heartwood Liable to blue stain Heartwood susceptible to marine borer and termite attack Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Heartwood has low to very low natural resistance to decay The heartwood has very low natural resistance to decay, and should not be used in exterior applications without treatment. Logs should be extracted from the forest rapidly after felling since they are prone to blue stain and pinhole borer attack. Keeping logs saturated in storage ponds prior to milling has been suggested. Odor No distinct taste May have a strong unpleasent odor when green or wet Green or wet wood may have a strong unpleasant odor, which has been described as musty. The odor, which is similar to that from freshly-cut elm, disappears after the wood is seasoned but may reappear if the material is rewetted Toxicity Unspecified toxicity Dermatitic effects Skin irritation has been reported in some individuals handling logs. The irritation is believed to be caused by skin penetration by long pointed bark fibers on logs. Washing with soap and water is an effective remedy. Kiln Schedules UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 Drying (speed) is fast Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid T3 - C2 (4/4); T2 - C1 (8/4) US Schedule C - United Kingdom Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Maintaining a relative humidity 10% higher than that suggested in the Schedule is recommended during the initial stages of drying 1.5 inch (30 mm) thick stock. In certain cases, a high temperature, high humidity treatment may be necessary to prevent discoloration from mold growth. Drying Defects Splitting Checking Distortion Moderate surface checking Moderate end spitting Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Slight end splitting Slight cupping Severe end splitting Slight collapse and honeycomb Severe surface checking Thicker stock is especially prone to surface-checking and end-splitting during drying. Volumetric shrinkage is in the moderate range. Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Easy Dries well The timber dries readily with little degrade, turning almost white upon drying. Thicker stock is usually more difficult to dry, and the wood may give off a strong, unpleasant odor during drying. The timber is reported to turn almost white after seasoning. Kiln Drying Rate Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is fluted Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Bole length is 0-10 m Tree height is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Ramin is reported to produce tall trees that are sometimes fluted at the base and boles that are cylindrical, straight and clear from branches for 50 to 60 feet (15 to 18 m) Product Sources This general purpose, utility timber for interior applications is abundant within most of its native range. Shipping costs and the fact that Ramin is used for the same applications as many North American hardwoods such as, Maple are reported to make it less appealing. Ramin is therefore seldom available on the North American market in lumber form. It is often found both on the US and European markets preprocessed into materials such as plywood corestock, dowels and moldings. Comments Bands of tension wood may be present in the timber. Crystals are usually abundant. General finishing qualities are rated as good Mineral Deposits Ramin has been compared to Hard maple in working properties, except that it is about 5 to 10 percent less dense, and slightly more porous. It is very close to Black walnut in density. Uses for Ramin are rather redundant with those of many native hardwoods of North America. Reaction Wood Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is moderate Medium effect Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Easy Straight fluted drills are recommended for boring Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to carve Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Satisfactory sawing characteristics Gluing Easy to glue Glues well The wood is reported to glue well, and is similar to Hard maple in gluing characteristics. Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mortise Good mortising properties Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good finishing results Easy to mould Good moulding properties The wood moulds well, but adequate support is usually required at tool exits. Movement in Service Large Not stable/prone to move Medium Nailing Difficult to nail Possible if prebored Tends to split during nailing Holds nails well Easy to nail Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Ease of planing is moderate Special attention suggested for best results The timber generally planes well but a reduced planing angle of 20 degrees has been recommended to prevent tearing since the most attractive Ramin products are from logs containing wavy grain. Level of difficulty is no higher than in Curly maple. Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Permeable heartwood Permeable sapwood Heartwood is permeable Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is moderately resistant Both heartwood and sapwood are easily treatable Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Good response to hand tools Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good routing qualities Routing qualities are generally good, but material should be supported at tool exits to prevent break-out Sanding Easy to sand Turning Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to turn Poor results Good results Finish is generally satisfactory Ramin is vulnerable to attack by fungi, which produces attractively spalted material for turnery work. Veneering Qualities Easy to cut No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Moderately easy to veneer Good gluing qualities Steam Bending Very poor Poor Polishing Satisfactory results Good results Very good Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Finish is generally good Satisfactory staining qualities The material takes stain satisfactorily after slight treatment with a filler. Varnishing Satisfactory Pre-treatment needed or recommended Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = high Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Hardness (side grain) = soft Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = very small