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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 Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Pseudosindora palustris Trade Name Sepetir Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Gu, Gu go, Kayu galu, Makata, Petir, Sapa, Sepetir, Sepetir Paya, Sindur, Supa, Swamp sepetir, Tampar hantu Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Brush backs & handles, Cabinetmaking, Excelsior, Flooring, Furniture, General carpentry, Joinery, Light construction, Paneling, Plywood, Sporting Goods, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Distributed in Malaysia, Indochina, and the Philippines, and is usually found in lowland forests. It is often common in localized areas within its range. Heartwood Color Purple Brown Black Pale red to pink Brown Reddish brown Pale brown Dark brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Reddish brown with dark streaks after aging Brown - golden with brown streaks Sapwood Color White Yellow White to yellow Pinkish White/Straw Well defined Matures to pink with age Different than heartwood Grain Straight Interlocked Figure Even Growth rings (figure) Variable (figure) Distinct (figure) Straight Interlocked Variable figure Clear growth rings (figure) Straight to shallowly interlocked Distinct figure Texture Coarse Medium Fine and uniform Fine Moderately fine & uniform Medium Medium to coarse May have slight greasy feel Luster Medium Dull Natural Growth Defects Yellowish deposits in vessels Whitish deposits in vessels Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Non-durable Non-resistant to termites Non-resistant to powder post beetles Perishable Non-resistant to marine borers Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Non durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Very little natural resistance Susceptible to termite and dry wood insect attack Sapwood is susceptible to powder-post beetle Resistant to attack from pinworms (ambrosia beetles) Moderately durable Odor Spicy scent Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK=G US=T8B3/T5B1 T8 - B3 (4/4) US T5 - B1 (8/4) US Schedule G - United Kingdom Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Drying Defects Expect resin/gum exudation Moderate end spitting Slight end splitting Slight twist/warp Distortion (twist/warp) is likely Ease of Drying Easy Air-dries rather well Air dries slowly Kiln Drying Rate Very slow (>28 days for boards < 32 mm, to >84 days for boards >= 63 mm) 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 cylindrical Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 0-10 m Tree height is 30-40 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Resinous Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is moderate Medium effect Heartwood dulls cutters very severely Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe Boring Moderately easy Difficult Cutting Resistance Difficult due to resin and gum accumulation Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Movement in Service Stable Small Nailing Easy to nail Some tendency for splitting Holds nails well Planing Easy to plane Planes well, to a good finish Sharp cutting edges recommended Heartwood has a considerable dulling effect Difficult to plane Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is highly resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Sapwood is modertely permeable Heartwood is resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Difficult to machine Sanding Fairly good sanding characteristics Turning Easy to turn Turns with moderate ease Good results Veneering Qualities There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Moderately easy to veneer No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Steam Bending Moderate Poor because of resin exudation Polishing Satisfactory results Good results Polishes well after filler despite resin content Staining Generally good after filling Finish is generally satisfactory Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = medium Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Bending strength (MOR) = high Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = small Resists denting and marring Heavy Hardness (side grain) = medium Density = high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = very high Bending strength (MOR) = very high Bending strength (MOR) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 10362 16063 psi Density 41 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1382 lbs Impact Strength 25 34 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 5421 8526 psi Shearing Strength 2054 psi Stiffness 1558 1875 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 13 13 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.54 Weight 41 40 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % Volumetric Shrinkage 10 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 728 1129 kg/cm2 Density 657 kg/m3 Hardness 626 kg Impact Strength 63 86 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 381 599 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 144 kg/cm2 Stiffness 109 131 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.91 0.91 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.54 Weight 657 641 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % References Australia - Forest Products Newsletter,1963,Properties of Australian Timbers - Blackwood,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Newsletter No.294 pp3-4 Brazier, J.D.,1959,Pseudosindora palustris sym - An account of its timber and anatomical,evidence for its taxonomic status,Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London 170(2) pp178-83 Browne, F.G.,1955,Forest Trees of Sarawak and Brunei and their Products.,Government Printing Office, Kuching, Sarawak Burgess, P.F.,1966,Timbers of Sabah,Sabah Forest Record, no.6 Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Desch, H.E.,1954,Manual of Malayan Timbers (2 vols,Malayan Forest Records,no.15 Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1954,Hardwoods for Industrial Flooring,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Leaflet, No.48 Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1954,Trials of Timbers for Plywood manufacture sepetir pseudosindora palustris,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Progress Report 24,Consignment 781 Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1967,The Steam Bending Properties of various timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Leaflet,No.45 Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1969,The Movement of Timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Technical Note,No.38 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 HMSO. 1972. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting Lavers, G. M. 1966. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50. Ministry of Technology, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. 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) Malaysian Timber Industry Board,1986,100 Malaysian Timbers,The Malaysian Timber Industry Board Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London Sarawak - Borneo Lit.Bureau,1961,Common Sarawak timbers,Borneo Lit. Bureau for Sarawak Forestry Department Smythies, B.E.,1965,Common Sarawak Trees,Borneo Literature Bureau Symington, C.F.,1943,Pseudosindora palystris (Leguminosae, Amherstieae) a new genus and species,in Borneo,Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London 155(3) pp285-8 Timber Review,1976,Sepetir (Sindora Spp. and Pseudosindora palustris,Timber Review,27 p15-6 Tsumoto, T., Karasawa, H.,1975,The Properties of Tropical Woods 21,Government of Japan Forest Experimental Station Bulletin,No.227