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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 Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability 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 Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Pentace burmanica Trade Name Thitka Family Name Tiliaceae Common Names Baru baran, Burma mahogany, Daeng amae, Kashit, Kathitka, Melunak, Melunal, Sisiat, Takalis, Takothet, Thethet, Thitka Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Burma, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: framing, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Core Stock, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Door, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory flooring, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Mathematical instruments, Millwork, Musical instruments: piano, Oars, Paneling , Paneling, Plywood, Shipbuilding, T-Squares, Tables, Toys, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Walking sticks Environmental Profile Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center This species is currently secure, with very little threat to its population within its natural growth in most areas including Myanmar or Burma. Its status in Thailand is currently listed as unknown because of insufficient information Distribution Overview Pentace genus contains about 15 to 20 species of trees, and are mostly confined to Malaysia and Burma. P. burmanica occurs in the tropical forests of Burma, in Pyinmana, the Pegu Yomas, Martaban and Tenasserim. Heartwood Color Red Brown Pink Reddish brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Red Pale brown Dark brown Dark brown Brown The freshly-cut heartwood is light brown in color but it ages to reddish-brown, golden brown, or deep red brown upon exposure Sapwood Color White Yellow White to yellow Yellow Whitish-Pink Well defined Same as heartwood Pinkish Pale straw It merges gradually into the heartwood and is not sharply defined Grain Figure Interlocked Stripe (figure) Rippled (figure) Distinct (figure) Other (figure) Mottled (figure) Interlocked Striped figure Rippled figure Other figure Distinct figure Mottled figure The grain is typically shallowly to deeply interlocked, producing a roey or ribbon figure on quartersawn surfaces. Texture Medium Fine Coarse Fine Coarse Medium Medium coarse to coarse Even textured Luster Medium Lustrous The surface of the timber is usually lustrous Natural Durability Non-durable Perishable Resistant to termites Non-resistant to termites Susceptible to insect attack Durable Very durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Susceptible to attack by marine borers Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Non durable Moderately durable Highly resistant to attack by termites The wood performs very well under cover Odor Seasoned wood is without distinctive odor or taste. Freshly-Cut wood has a sour smell. Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is slow UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 Drying Defects Collapse Distortion Internal Honeycombing Possible Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Slight end splitting Moderate twist/warp Moderate surface checking The material has a slight tendency to check and warp during kiln-drying Ease of Drying Variable Easy Mild kiln schedules recommended to minimize drying defects The timber air-seasons and kiln dries slowly. The timber air-seasons and kiln dry slowly Kiln Drying Rate Very slow (>28 days for boards < 32 mm, to >84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Bark width is 0-5 mm Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm The tree is described as very large, attaining a height of about 130 feet and a trunk diameter of 5 to 9 feet (1.2 and 2.5 m). Boles are usually straight and well-formed, with a merchantable length of 65 to 75 feet (20 to 23 m). Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Timber produced by this species is of high quality, and is similar in many respects to the true mahogany (Swietenia ). It is very decorative, when properly sawn, and is highly suitable for making fine furniture, cabinets, interior fittings and panelling Blunting Effect Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Satisfactory results Carving The wood is fairly hard, but it carves satisfactorily Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Satisfactory sawing properties Gluing Good gluing properties Easy to glue Mortising Mortising characteristics are satisfactory Moulding Good finishing results The fairly hard timber responds fairly well to moulding operations Movement in Service Medium Nailing Easy to nail Good nailing characteristics Planing Ease of planing is moderate Planes well, to a good finish Tangential surfaces plane well but radial surfaces require reduced planing angles to prevent torn grain because of the presence of interlocked grain Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is resistant Heartwood is extremely resistant The timber is rated as highly resistant to preservative treatment because of tyloses in vessels. Incising is reported to increase heartwood absorption and retention only slightly Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Responds well to hand tools Routing & Recessing The timber responds well to ordinary tools in routing to produce satisfactory results Sanding Good sanding properties Screwing Easy to screw Screwing characteristics are fairly good Turning Satisfactory turning properties Easy to turn Polishing Satisfactory results Good results Generally polishes well Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Finish is generally good Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = small Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = very small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Bending strength (MOR) = medium Weight = heavy Shrinkage, Volumetric = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Max. crushing strength = medium Density = high Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content) is high Bending strength (MOR) = low It compares favorably with Teak, which also has high bending strength. Other species in this range include Teak, White oak, and Hard maple. It is fairly hard, resisting wear, denting, and marring fairly well Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9565 12905 psi Density 41 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1095 lbs Impact Strength 28 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 4728 6670 psi Stiffness 1525 1699 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.52 0.57 Weight 39 39 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Volumetric Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 672 907 kg/cm2 Density 657 kg/m3 Hardness 496 kg Impact Strength 71 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 332 468 kg/cm2 Stiffness 107 119 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.52 0.57 Weight 624 624 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % References Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 3 Southern Asia,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Burgess, P.F.,1966,Timbers of Sabah,Sabah Forest Record, no.6 Carrapiett, J.B.,1960,Notes on ornamental timbers of Burma,Burmese Forester,10(1,pp37-53 Chowdhury, K.A. and S.S. Ghosh. 1958. Indian Woods - Their Identification, Properties and Uses, Volume I - Dilleniaceae to Elaeocarpaceae. Published by the Manager of Publications, Delhi, India. Chowdhury, K.A., Ghosh, S.S.,1958,Indian Woods: Their identification, properties and uses Vol. I,Dilleruaceae to Elaeocarpaceae,Manager of Publications, Delhi, India Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London Cox, H.A.,1939,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Desch, H.E.,1954,Manual of Malayan Timbers (2 vols,Malayan Forest Records,no.15 Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO Forests Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1956,A Handbook of Hardwoods,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research Establishment Gamble, J.S.,1902,A Manual of Indian Timbers,Sampson Low, Marston & Co. London Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. 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 Kribs, D.A.,1950,Commercial and Foreign Woods on the American Market (a manual to their,structure, identification, uses and distribution,U.S.A. Penn. State College, Tropical Woods Laboratory Limaye, V.D. 1954. Grouping of Indian Timbers and Their Properties, Uses, and Suitability. Indian Forest Records (New Series). Timber Mechanics. Volume 1 No. 2. Manager of Publications (Publisher, Delhi Limaye, V.D. and B.R. Sen. 1956. Weights and Specific Gravities of Indian Woods. Indian Forest Records (New Series). Timber Mechanics. Volume 1 No. 4. Manager of Publications (Publisher, Delhi Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press Pearson, R.S., Brown, H.P.,1932,Commercial Timbers of India,Govt. Printer Calcutta,2 vols Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition