Search for

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 References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Octomeles sumatrana Trade Name Binuang Family Name Datiscaceae Common Names Afu, Bada, Banosan, Banuang, Barauisan, Barobalobo, Barong, Barosing, Barousan, Benoewang, Benua, Benua motutu, Benuang, Benuang bini, Benumba, Benuwang, Bilua, Biluan, Bilus, Binoewang, Binonang, Binua, Binuang, Bunuang, Bunuang bini, Buwar, Erima, Faara, Fadda, Fote, Ilimo, Ipa, Jare, Kabal, Kajoe palaka, Kakerim, Kapu, Kijare, Kinem, Libas-blanco, Ngafi, Palaka, Para, Rima, Samak, Sanai, Senao, Tina, Usu, Walada, Wenuang, Winuang Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands Common Uses Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Chairs, Chests, Coffins, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Construction, Decorative plywood, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Door, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Form work, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hardboards, Hatracks, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Matches, Moldings, Office furniture, Particleboard, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rough construction, Rustic furniture, Shingles, Stools, Structural plywood, Veneer Environmental Profile Vulnerable in parts of its natural habitat Status unknown due to inadequate information Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Vulnerable in the Phillipines. Its status in the wild is currently listed as unknown because of insufficient information in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Sabah, Sarawak, Sumatra, and the Solomon Islands Distribution Overview The natural growth range of this species extends from Sumatra to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, and northwards to the Philippines. It grows at low altitudes, and is often found in pure stands. The tree regenerate freely and is considered to be a fast-growing pioneer species. Heartwood Color Yellow Orange Black Green/grey Pale brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale red to pink Greenish to greyish Brown Pinkish tint Pale yellow Light reddish-brown to yellowish-brown Dark brown Sapwood Color Yellow White White to yellow Same as heartwood Wide Whitish Well defined Paler than heartwood Sapwood s not always differentiable from the heartwood. Grain Interlocked Figure Stripe (figure) Other (figure) Crossed Interlocked Striped figure Other figure Other figure Figure shows rays Crossed Texture Fine Medium coarse to coarse Coarse Medium Luster Medium High Low Dull Low Natural Growth Defects Brittleheart is often frequent and extensive Natural Durability Non-durable Durable Perishable Moderately durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to insect attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Perishable Non durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Susceptible to marine borer attack Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Heartwood highly vulnerable to attack by termites and marine borers Heartwood has very low resistance to decay Odor Unpleasent aroma associated with freshly cut material Seasoned material has no specific odor or taste Freshly sawn timber may have unpleasent odor, which fades with seasoning Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid UK=D US=T3D2/T3C1 T3 - C2 (4/4); T3 - C1 (8/4) US Schedule C - United Kingdom Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Checking Splitting Moderate surface checking Moderate end spitting Severe surface checking Severe end splitting Slight surface checking Moderate twist/warp Knot splitting The timber is reported to degrade severely in the zone between the heartwood-sapwood during drying Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Fairly Easy Medium to High Shrinkage Easy Stack timber carefully to minimize degrade Moderate Difficult Air dries slowly Radial - 3.0% Shrinkage from green to 12% MC Stacks require weighting down to prevent end-splitting, twisting, and surface-checking. Tangential - 7.0% Kiln Drying Rate Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is not buttressed Tree Size Some trees are reported to have very large buttresses that may reach 12 to 15 feet (4 to 4.5 m) above the the base Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Little Moderate High to severe Blunting effect on machining is slight Slight dulling effect on cutting tools Blunting effect on cutting edges is generally slight, but occasional white deposits may chip planer knives. Boring Fair to good results Fairly difficult to very difficult Easy Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good results Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Easy to saw Moderate to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy The wood saws well, but cross-cutting usually produces a poor finish. Gluing Easy to glue Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Finishes poorly Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good finishing results Movement in Service Small Stable Seasoned timber is dimensionally stable, and retains its shape well after manufacture. Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Easy to nail Nails hold poorly Satisfactory nailing properties Holds satisfactorily Nailing properties vary, but they are generally satisfactory Planing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Ease of planing is moderate Special attention required Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane White deposits may chip planer knives, and a reduced cutting angle of 20 degrees is recommended to prevent woolly planed surfaces. Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is moderately resistant Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is permeable Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Response to very sharp edged hand tools is good. Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Routing is easy Sanding Very Good to Excellent Results Good sanding properties Good sanding finish Screwing Poor to Very Poor Results Pre-boring recommended Satisfactory screwing properties Poor results Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Poor results Turns, bores, moulds, mortises and recesses rather easily Special attention required Responds well to machine tools to produce clean bored surfaces For clean, smooth surfaces,sharp cutting edges are required Finish is generally satisfactory Veneering Qualities Easy to cut Suitable for peeling No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Good gluing qualities Steam Bending Very poor Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory results Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Finish is generally satisfactory Good staining qualities Finish is generally good Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 15-22 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Radial = very small Max. crushing strength = medium