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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 Corrosive Properties 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 Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Intsia palembanica Trade Name Merbau Family Name Caesalpiniaceae Synonyms Intsia bakeri, Intsia plurijuga Common Names Aizella, Anglai, Borneo teak, Go nuoe, Hintsy, Ipil, Kwila, Lum-pho, Lumpha, Lumpho, Makhamong, Marbau, Merbau, Miraboo, Miraboo laut, Mirabow, Tat talun, Tat-talun, V'ula, Vesi Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Australia, Burma, Fiji [Polynesia], India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Thailand Common Uses Agricultural implements, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Boxes and crates, Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Decks, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Drum sticks, Excelsior, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Food containers, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles: general, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Ladders, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Marine construction, Mathematical instruments, Mine timbers, Musical instruments , Musical instruments, Office furniture, Organ pipes, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Piano keys, Pianos , Plywood, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Tables, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative, Wharf construction, Wheel spokes Environmental Profile Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare within its range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview The two very closely related species are widely distributed throughout Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Pacific Islands (Fiji, Solomons, Vanuatu). The resource is not large, but international demand for the timber is high. Heartwood Color Brown Red Purple Brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Reddish brown Dark brown Pale brown Dark brown Greenish to greyish The heartwood is yellowish to orange brown when first cut, but it matures into brown or dark red-brown upon exposure. Vessels are often filled with yellowish or whitish deposits, conspicuous on the surface. Color variation between boards is moderate to high. Sapwood Color White Yellow White to yellow Well defined Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Width is 1.5 to 2 inches (4 to 5 cm). Grain Interlocked Figure Distinct (figure) Wavy Growth rings (figure) Straight Closed Even Rippled (figure) Ribbon (figure) Interlocked Distinct figure Wavy Straight Clear growth rings (figure) Rippled figure Ribbon figure Texture Coarse Coarse Medium coarse to coarse Medium Luster Lustrous Dull Variable luster Slightly lustrous Natural Growth Defects Yellowish deposits in vessels Whitish deposits in vessels Brittleheart is often frequent and extensive The wood contains a dark brown gummy substance that leaches out steadily with water, and stains textiles. Natural Durability Non-durable Perishable Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to termites Non-resistant to powder post beetles Moderately durable Durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Very durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Moderately resistant to marine borer attack Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Sapwood is susceptible to insect attack Resistant to wood staining fungal attack Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from pinworms (ambrosia beetles) Resistant to attack from marine borers Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Highly resistant to termite attack Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Odor Characteristic odor, easily detectable when worked. Astringent taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Corrosive Properties Reacts with metals Toxicity Unspecified toxicity Respiratory effects Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying (speed) is fast Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Drying Defects Distortion Splitting Slight surface checking Slight cupping Moderate surface checking Moderate end spitting The wood may distort slightly during drying. To prevent end checking, sealing has been suggested. Ease of Drying Slowly Rapidly Easy The wood should be dried at a fairly rapid rate to avoid discoloration. Harvesting and converting in the winter or before the hot weather is suggested to retain the white color Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Naturally dries quickly Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is fluted Tree Size Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 40-50 m Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Bark width is 20-25 mm Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 50-60 m The tree is described as large, developing a bole that is described as often fluted, rather short and thick Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good The timber of Merbau is comparable in strength to that of hickory (Carya ), but it is less dense Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is moderate Severe effect Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fairly easy to very easy Easy Severe dulling effect on cutting edges Good boring properties Carving Good carving properties Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Saw teeth are gummed up easily and dulled quickly Difficult to saw Carbide tipped tools are recommended Gluing Easy to glue The wood is reported to glue well (except with casein glues) but requires considerable filling. Oily surfaces may cause difficulties. Mortising Finishes well Easy to mortise Cutters may blunt rather rapidly Moulding Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results A reduced cutting angle of 20 degrees is recommended in moulding quartered surfaces Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Small Stable Reports indicate significant movement in service in actual installations. Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Difficult to nail Tends to split during nailing Pre-boring recommended Holds nails well Planing Fair to Good Results Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Difficult to plane The wood is rather difficult to plane, especially if the grain is interlocked. When planing quartered material with interlocked grain, it is recommended that the cutting angle be reduced to 20 degrees to minimize tear and pick up. Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Heartwood is highly resistant Sapwood is resistant Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Variable qualities Difficult to machine Responds fairly well to hand tools Moderate working qualities Easy to machine Cutting edges are dulled quickly and severely Routing & Recessing Good routing properties Sanding Satisfactory sanding properties May be some interference from oily patches Good sanding finish Screwing Good screw holding properties Difficult to screw Turning Good results Easy to turn Severe blunting effect on cutting edges because of interlocked grain and silica content Veneering Qualities No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Good gluing qualities Diifficult to veneer Steam Bending Poor because of oil exudations Painting Takes paint well Good results Polishing Fair to Good Results Satisfactory results Occasional surface preparation may be required because of oily patches Good results Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Staining (Characteristic) = coloured water-soluble extract Reacts with Iron to discolour wood Material in contact with ferrous metal and moisture may be stained black