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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 Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Pterocarpus marsupium Trade Name Bijasal Family Name Dipterocarpaceae Common Names Angu, Bebe, Bijasal, Huevos de gato, Indian Padauk, Lagunero, Mututi, Nogal falso, Padauk, Palo de pollo, Pau sangua, Sangre, Sangre de drago, Sangrillo, Yaya sangre Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] India Common Uses Beams, Building construction, Cabin construction, Clogs, Concrete formwork, Construction, Crossties, Decks, Factory construction, Farm vehicles, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Handles, Heavy construction, Joists, Light construction, Porch columns, Railroad ties, Rough construction, Shafts/Handles, Structural work, Tool handles, Wheel spokes, Wheels , Windows Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview The genus Pterocarpus consists of over 60 species of small and large trees that occur widely in the tropics. Pterocarpus marsupium is widely distributed in Central and South India, mainly on hilly areas at altitudes of 490 to 1475 feet (150 to 450 m), but occasionally reaching up to 3270 feet (1000 m) or more. It is found also in Orissa and Bihar and extends eastwards to the sub-Himalayan tract up to Kumaon. Heartwood Color White Brown Red Tan Reddish brown Golden brown Darkens upon exposure Contains dark streaks Sapwood Color White to yellow Well defined Grain Interlocked Moderately interlocked Texture Coarse Medium Medium Natural Durability Very good weathering properties Sapwood is susceptible to wood broing insects Heartwood is very durable Drying Defects Checking Ring Shakes Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Slight end splitting It is prone to staining and should be be kept immersed in water for some time time to leach out the yellow dye before seasoning. Kiln-drying is rather easy, and also improves the color Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Green conversion and stacking in open piles is recommended Dries well The herat of logs should be boxed out, since it tends to degrade considerably during drying. Tree Size Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Comments The timber is reported to contain a dye which dissolves readily in cold water to stain the a wood yellowish color, and also impart a characteristic yellowish-blue flourescence to the water Wood contains yellow dye Blunting Effect Abrasive material in pores may dull cutting edges Boring Fairly easy to very easy Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Surfaces tend to be woolly Easy to saw Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Interlocked slightly to moderately Less stable than Andaman padauk Nailing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planes to a poor finish Easy to plane Areas of interlocked grain may cause tearing Abrasives in vessels dull cutting edges rapidly Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Permeable heartwood Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is highly resistant Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Veneering Qualities Suitable for slicing Rotary cutting is not recommended due interlocked grain and aberasive material Steam Bending Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Varnishing Heavy varnish used to prevent discoloration and staining in contact with water Strength Properties Very heavy Density = high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = very high Bending strength (MOR) = very high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 10384 19227 psi Density 49 lbs/ft3 Impact Strength 50 41 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 5087 9523 psi Stiffness 1429 1866 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.65 0.69 Weight 58 48 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Volumetric Shrinkage 10 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 730 1351 kg/cm2 Density 785 kg/m3 Impact Strength 126 104 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 357 669 kg/cm2 Stiffness 100 131 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.65 0.69 Weight 929 769 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % References Limaye, V.D. 1954. Grouping of Indian Timbers and their Properties, Uses and Suitability. Indian Forest Records, New Series. Timber Mechanics, Vol. 1, No. 2, Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, India. Limaye, V.D. and B.R. Sen. 1953. Weights and Specific Gravities of Indian Woods. Indian Forest Records, New Series. Timber Mechanics, Vol. 1, No. 4, Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, India. Rao, K.R. and S.K. Purkayastha. 1972. Indian Woods - Their Identification, Properties and Uses, Volume III - Leguminosae to Combretaceae. Published by the Manager of Publications, Delhi, India.