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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 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 Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Gonystylus macrophyllum Trade Name Ramin Family Name Thymelaeaceae Synonyms Gonystylus miquelianus, Gonystylus obovatus, Gonystylus philippinensis Common Names Ainunura, Fungunigalo, Garu-buaja, Lanutan-bagio, Lanutan-bagyo, Latareko, Melawis, Nunura, Petata, Ramin, Ramin telur, Soloman Islands ramin Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands Common Uses Boat building: framing, Boxes and crates, Broom handles, Brush backs & handles, Canoes, Carvings, Decorative veneer, Door, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Joinery, Light construction, Mathematical instruments, Moldings, Paneling , Paneling, Particleboard, Picture frames, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Status unsure as a result of insufficient information Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview Southeast Asia, in Sarawak and western Malaysia. Heartwood Color Green/grey Black Brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown White to cream Straw brown Pale red to pink The wood is rather plain in appearance, with both sapwood and heartwood having a pale straw or creamy-brown color. Sapwood Color White Yellow Same as heartwood Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Straight Interlocked Figure Even Weak (figure) Growth rings (figure) Straight Interlocked Weak figure Shallowly interlocked Clear growth rings (figure) Texture Fine Fine to medium Medium Fine Even textured Luster Dull Natural Growth Defects Brittleheart is rare or absent. When present, it is sparse in amount Brittleheart is often frequent and extensive Natural Durability Very durable Non durable Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Perishable Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Sapwood susceptible to attack by dry wood termites Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Little natural resistance Odor No specific smell or taste Toxicity Unspecified toxicity Dermatitic effects Sharp pointed bark fibers may cause skin irritation in some individuals Kiln Schedules Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Drying (speed) is fast UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 T3-C2 (4/4); T2-C1 (8/4) US Schedule C (4/4) United Kingdom Schedule B suggested for drying stock thicker than 1.5 inches (37 mm). Drying Defects Moderate surface checking Moderate end spitting Surface checks Slight twist/warp Slight end splitting Slight cupping No twisting or warping End checks Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Easy Moderate Dries well under good controlled conditions Dip treat with anti-stain solution soon after conversion and before stacking. The timber is reported to season readily with little degrade, but it must be dipped promptly after conversion since it is susceptible to staining by mould growth. Air-dry material is reported to kiln-dry readily, but is accompanied by a strong, unpleasant odor. Kiln Drying Rate Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is fluted Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 0-10 m Sapwood width is 20-25 cm Sapwood width is greater than 25 cm Bole length is 0-10 m Boles are often long, straight and well-formed. Product Sources Ramin is rather difficult to obtain in small quantities because of limitations on export of sawn log from producing countries. Very limited quantities are available on the European market at a price that is comparable to that of the medium cost hardwoods Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Blunting effect on machining is moderate Cuting edges are dulled moderately Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Low cutting resistance Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Gluing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to glue Good gluing properties Mortising Easy to mortise Moulding Good finishing results Easy to mould Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Large Small Not stable/prone to move Medium Nailing Possible if prebored Difficult to nail Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair planing properties Easy to plane Difficult to plane The grain tends to break-out when working end-grain material with dull cutting edges. Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is permeable Sapwood is permeable Good response to preservative treatment Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Responds fairly well to hand tools Screwing Easy to screw Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to turn Veneering Qualities There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Easy to cut Steam Bending Very poor Poor The wood has a tendency to buckle in steam bending. Painting Satisfactory results Good results Easy Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory results Requires a filler Good results Surface requires a small amount of filler for satisfactory polishing results. Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Good staining qualities Finish is generally good Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = soft Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = large Heavy Hardness = medium Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = high The timber has high bending strength properties, medium stiffness, and low resistance to shock loads. It is heavy and moderately hard. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 8784 14410 psi Crushing Strength 564 1845 psi Density 38 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1107 lbs Impact Strength 28 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 5017 7846 psi Shearing Strength 1566 psi Static Bending 4146 8014 psi Stiffness 1631 2000 1000 psi Toughness 214 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.48 0.54 Weight 39 29 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 617 1013 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 39 129 kg/cm2 Density 608 kg/m3 Hardness 502 kg Impact Strength 71 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 352 551 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 110 kg/cm2 Static Bending 291 563 kg/cm2 Stiffness 114 140 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 246 cm-kg Specific Gravity 0.48 0.54 Weight 624 464 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % References Bolza, E.,1975,Properties and Uses of 175 Timber Species from Papua New Guinea and West,Irian,C.S.I.R.O. Div. Building Research Report,no.34 Bolza, E.,1981,The Mechanical properties of 33 Solomon Islands timbers,C.S.I.R.O. Div. Building Research. Technical Paper (2nd series) No.37 British Woodworking Federation. 1995. Which Wood . Published by the British Woodworking Federation, Broadway House, Tothill Street, London. Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 4 South East Asia,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Burgess, P.F.,1966,Timbers of Sabah,Sabah Forest Record, no.6 C.S.I.R.O.,1977,Ramin (Gonystylus spp.,CSIRO Division of Building Research Information Service Sheet No.10-10 I. Soerianegara and R.H.M.J. Lemmens (Editors,1993,Plant Resources of South-East Asia 5,(PROSEA, 1,Timber trees: Major commercial timbers,Pudoc Scientific Publishers, Wageningen 1993 Jackson, A. and D. Day. 1992. Good Wood Handbook - The Wood worker's Guide to Identifying, Selecting and Using the Right Wood. HarperCollins Publishers, London. Lauricio, F. M., Bellosillo, S. B., The Mechanical and Related Properties of Philippine Woods, The Lumberman, 12(5):A-H. 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) Lee, Y.H., et al,1974,Commercial Timbers of Peninsular Malaysia,Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Department of Forestry Peninsular Malaysia and,Malaysian Timber Industry Board Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc. Fresno, California. Meniado, J.A., America, W.M.,1981,The wood Lanutan-Bagyo (Gonystylus macrophyllus (Mig) Airy Shaw) Family:,Thymelaeceae,Forpride Digest 10(3/4) pp63-8 Osborne, L.D.,1970,Decay resistance of South-West Pacific rain forest timbers,C.S.I.R.O.,Div. for Prod., Tech. paper No.56 Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press Pleydell, G.J.,1970,Timbers of the British Solomon Islands,United Africa Company (Timber) Ltd, London Solomon Islands, Ministry of Natural Resources, Forestry Division,1979,Solomon Islands Timbers - Minor Species,Solomon Islands, Ministry of Natural Resources, Forestry Division, Honiara,Timber Booklet 2 WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing: Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center (WCMC, Plants Program, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.