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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 Numerical Data 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 Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Madhuca utilis Trade Name Belian Family Name Sapotaceae Synonyms Payena utilis, Isonandra utilis, Madhuca stenophylla Common Names Belian, Betis, Bitis, Seminai Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Malaysia Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Bridge construction, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Furniture, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery, Ladders, Light construction, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts Environmental Profile Vulnerable Abundant/Secure Distribution Overview Madhuca species are found in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indomalesia, and the Pacific Islands. Heartwood Color Red Brown Purple Reddish brown Purple Dark brown Sapwood Color Pink Brown Red Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Paler than heartwood Grain Figure Straight Interlocked Even Stripe (figure) Weak (figure) Straight Striped figure Interlocked Weak figure Texture Coarse Medium Fine Fine to medium Fine Luster Low Medium Lustrous Dull Natural Durability Durable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to termites Moderately durable Resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Very durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Moderately durable Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Collapse Internal Honeycombing Possible Splitting Distortion Severe surface checking Severe end splitting Moderate surface checking Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Thick Stock Requires Care Slowly Requires special attention Difficult Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Bole length is 20-30 m Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate High to severe Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe Boring Fairly easy to very easy Difficult Moderately easy Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Gum-Up Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Pre-Boring Recommended Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Ease of planing is moderate Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is resistant Resistance to Splitting Very Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Screwing Pre-boring recommended Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Poor results Easy to turn Difficult to turn Veneering Qualities Difficult to veneer Painting Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Polishing Fair to Good Results Poor to Very Poor Results Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory results Good results Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 61 - 67 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high Max. crushing strength = very high Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Bending strength (MOR) = high Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = small Hardness (side grain) = very hard Density (dry weight) = > 75 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 53 - 60 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Bending strength (MOR) = very high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 15409 23035 psi Density 53 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2940 lbs Impact Strength 40 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 10035 13590 psi Stiffness 2578 3011 1000 psi Weight 53 52 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1083 1619 kg/cm2 Density 849 kg/m3 Hardness 1333 kg Impact Strength 101 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 705 955 kg/cm2 Stiffness 181 211 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 849 833 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % References 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 Desch, H.E.,1954,Manual of Malayan Timbers (2 vols,Malayan Forest Records,no.15 Foxworthy, F.W., Woolley, H.W.,1930,Durability of Malayan Timbers,Malayan Forest Record,No.8 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, W.F.,1954,Report of a further series of laboratory tests to determine the resistance,to termite attack of certain Malayan commercial timbers,Malayan Forester 17(4) pp207-8 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 Lee, Y.H., et al,1974,Commercial Timbers of Peninsular Malaysia,Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Department of Forestry Peninsular Malaysia and,Malaysian Timber Industry Board Lee, Y.H., Lopez, D.T.,1968,The Machining Properties of some Malayan Timbers,Malayan Forester,3,pp194-210 Malayan Forester,1953,Research item - Report of laboratory tests to determine the resistance to,termite attack of certain Malayan commercial timbers,Malayan Forester 16(1) pp45-9 Strugnell, E.J.,1931,Notes on woods for furniture making,Malaysian Forester 1 pp69-73 Whitmore, T.C. (Ed.,1972,Tree Flora of Malaya A Manual for Foresters Volume 1,Forest Department Ministry of Agriculture and Lands Malaysia