Balau

Family:

Shorea spp.

Sceientific:

Distribution:

Description:

Sapwood is moderately well defined and lighter in colour than heartwood. The colour of freshly cut heartwood is yellow-brown, or brown with reddish tinge, weathering ultimately to a deeper shade of brown or reddish dark brown. Planed surface is not particularly lustrous but is by no means dull. The grain is interlocked, often giving rise to faint stripe figure: texture is moderately fine and even. Resin canals usually with white contents, occur characteristically in concentric lines on the end surface but the wood is not resinous.

Uses:

Heavy construction (untreated): Bridges, piers, wharves, piling, beams, posts, joists, power line posts, keels, keelson, and framework of boats, dock blocks, fenders, railway sleepers, framework of carriages, wagons, motor lorries and trucks, rubber coagulating tanks, beer vats, wine casks, butter churns, heavy-duty flooring, and spools.

Technical:

Weight: 977 kg/M3

Veneering:

Has not been tried but unlikely to be suitable because of its high density.

Equivalents:

Burma (Ingyin, Thitya), India (Sal), Indochina (Ca-chak), Indonesia (Balau), Philippines (Gisok), Sabah (Selangan batu), Sarawak (Balau), Thailand (Ak, Aek, Rang, Tang)

Bitis

Family:

Madhuca utilis

Sceientific:

Distribution:

Description:

Sapwood is well defined. Heartwood is red-brown or chocolate brown in colour. Surface is not lustrous. The grain is straight or only slightly interlocked and the texture is fine and even. The wood lathers freely when rubbed with water. It has a bitter taste.

Uses:

Heavy construction (untreated): Bridges, wharves, piers, piling, beams, posts, joists, railway sleepers, paving blocks, wheel hubs, cart axles, shoulder poles, mallets. The timber of pole size trees makes excellent handles for hammers, axes and changkols but timber of mature trees is usually too dense for this use.

Technical:

Weight: 1,105 kg/M3

Veneering:

Has not been tried but unlikely to be suitable because of its high density.

Equivalents:

India (Bullet wood), Thailand (Ma seng, Masarng), Malaysian (Bitis)

Takianchan

Family:

Balanocarpus heimii

Sceientific:

Distribution:

Description:

Sapwood is well defined. When freshly sawn, the heartwood is yellow-green in colour, weathering ultimately to a dark tan brown. Wood is moderately lustrous and has prominent ripple marks. The grain is interlocked giving rise to stripe figure: texture is moderately fine and even. Resin canals with white contents occur characteristically in concentric lines on end surface but the wood is not resinous.

Uses:

Chengal used to be the standard timber for heavy construction, bridges, railway sleepers, sawn power line posts, boat building, heavy flooring, motor lorry and truck body work, rubber coagulating tanks and many other uses where great strength and durability are required. It should make good beer vats, dyeing vats, wine casks, tubs, butter churns, etc. However, the timber is in short supply and is uneconomical for many uses. Balau, Giam and Resak are good substitutes for Changal.

Technical:

Weight: 945 kg/M3

Veneering:

Has not been tried

Equivalents:

Thailand (Chan ta kian, Ta kian chan)

Giam

Family:

Horea spp.

Sceientific:

Distribution:

Description:

The wood is very similar to Chengal except that the green tinge of colour of freshly sawn timber is not so pronounced in Giam and that ripple marks are absent.

Uses:

Heavy construction (untreated): Bridges, piers, wharves, piling, beams, posts, joists, heavy duty flooring, power line poles, keels, keelson, and framework of boats, dock blocks, bearing blocks, brake blocks, mallets, buffers, railway sleepers, carriage and wagon frames, wagon beds, floor boards, lorry and truck body frames, beer vats, rubber coagulating tanks, wine casks, butter churns etc. It is a good substitute for Balau, Chengal and Resak.

Technical:

Weight: 977 kg/M3

Veneering:

Has not been tried

Equivalents:

Indochina (Sang dao, Kien kien, Song-da), Philippines (Yacal, Saplungan), Sabah (Selangan batu), Sarawak (Giam), Thailand (Lao-tao, Thakian lin, Thakian nu)

Mangkha

Family:

Cynometra spp.

Sceientific:

Distribution:

Description:

Sapwood is not well defined. The heartwood is claret-red in colour and is attractively streaked with lighter coloured layers and often has a small brown-black corewood. The grain is fairly straight or only shallowly interlocked and the texture is moderately fine and even.

Uses:

Heavy construction, poles, posts, beams, door and window frames, hammer handles and heavy-duty flooring.

Technical:

Weight: 977 kg/M3

Veneering:

Has not been tried

Equivalents:

West Africa (Ananta, Muhimbi, Zingana) Burma (Myinga), Philippines (Oringen), Sabah (Katong katong), Thailand (Mang-kha)

Kapur

Family:

Dryobalanops spp.

Sceientific:

Distribution:

Description:

Sapwood is well defined and pale coloured. The heartwood is red-brown when freshly cut, weathering to a light red-brown. It has no lustre or figure. Ripple marks are often distinct. The grain is slightly interlocked or spiral and texture is coarse and even. Resin canals usually without contents occur characteristically in concentric lines on the end surface but the wood is not resinous. It often has a camphor-like odour.

Uses:

House posts, beams, posts, joists, door and window frames, flooring, stair treads and stringers, keels, keelson ribs and framework of boats, carriages and wagon frames, lorry and truck frames, floor boards, etc. However, in domestic flooring and internal fittings where finished appearance is important, care should be taken in fixing because of a tendency to develop an unsightly black stain in contact with iron nails, screws or other fittings.

Technical:

Weight: 977 kg/M3

Veneering:

The timber is considered as potentially acceptable for plywood manufacture.

Equivalents:

Indonesia (Kapur), Sabah (Kapur), Sarawak (Kapur)

Kasai

Family:

Pometia spp.

Sceientific:

Distribution:

Description:

Sapwood is well defined in P. pinnata but not so well defined in others. Heartwood is light red-brown in colour when fresh, weathering to a darker shade. Surface is moderately lustrous. The grain is interlocked giving rise to vague ribbon figure. The texture is moderately coarse and even.

Uses:

Beams, posts, joists, rafters, door and window frames and sills, kitchen furniture, boat framing, masts, spars, police batons, spools, bobbins, tripods, gymnasium equipment, minor tool handles, plywood, etc, athletic goods and bentwood work.

Technical:

Weight: 801 kg/M3

Veneering:

n/a

Equivalents:

Indochina (Truong), Indonesia (Kesai), Philippines (Malugai), Sabah (Kasai), Sarawak (Kasai)

Selangking

Family:

Artocarpus spp.

Sceientific:

Distribution:

Description:

Sapwood is straw-coloured and well defined. Heartwood is orange-brown or olive-brown, weathering to a walnut brown. Surface moderately lustrous. The grain is very interlocked giving rise to stripe figure. The texture is moderately coarse and even.

Uses:

Beams, posts, joists, rafters, door and window frames and sills, stair treads and stringers, decorative work, parquet flooring, panelling, joinery, cabinet-making, hulls, decking, masts, spars, cabin fittings, and framework of boats, bowls, platters, trays, wine casks, butter churns, cooked food containers, T-squares, straight edges, set squares, tripods, rulers, fancy boxes and chests, police batons, wheel hubs, spools, bobbing, veneers, plywood and expensive hewn coffins.

Technical:

Weight: 801 kg/M3

Veneering:

n/a

Equivalents:

Burma (Myauklok, Taungpeinne), India (Chaplash, Lakooch), Indochina (Mit), Indonesia (Keledang), Philippines (Anubing), Sabah (Anjaburi, Buruni), Sarawak (Selangking), Sri Lanka (Del, Jak kanangonna), Thailand (Ma-hat, kha-num pan)

Kempus

Family:

Koompassia Malaccensis

Sceientific:

Distribution:

Description:

Sapwood is well defined and yellow in colour. Heartwood is brick-red streaked with yellow-brown lines, weathering to an orange-red colour. Surface is moderately lustrous, and ripple marks are mostly present. The grain is interlocked giving rise to faint stripe figure. The texture is coarse and even.

Uses:

Treated with preservatives, Kempas is suitable for all heavy construction, railway sleepers, telegraph and power line poles, fence posts, etc. The untreated timber is suitable for all structures under cover where termites are not a hazard, including posts, beams, joists, rafters, etc. It is a very attractive timber for parquet flooring but some manufacturers consider it too hard to machine. It makes good walking sticks and is a favourite wood for charcoal manufacture.

Technical:

Weight: 881 kg/M3

Veneering:

n/a

Equivalents:

Indonesia (Kempas), Sabah (Impas), Sarawak (Impas, Kempas, Mengris)

Keruing

Family:

Dipterocarpus spp.

Sceientific:

Distribution:

Description:

Sapwood is well defined and grey-brown in colour. The heartwood is red-brown or purple-red, weathering to a dark red-brown. Surface dull and often tacky. Grain almost straight: texture moderately coarse and even. It has a faint resinous odour. Resin exudation may occur in inadequately seasoned wood of some species.

Uses:

Heavy construction, posts, beams, joists, rafters, staircase stringers, wharf and bridge decking, keels and framework of boats, framework of carriages and wagons, wagon flooring, truck body work, fence posts, flooring etc. It is one of the preferred timbers in England for gymnasium equipment. Treated with preservatives preferably with creosote, it is an excellent wood for salt water piling, harbour works, bridges, railway sleepers, telegraph poles and power-line poles. Abundant supply is one of the best features of this wood.

Technical:

Weight: 801 kg/M3

Veneering:

Equivalents:

Burma (In, Kayin), India (Eng, Gurjun, Hollong), Indochina (Cho-nau, Dau), Indonesia (Keruing), Philippines (Apitong), Sabah (Keruing), Sarawak (Keruing), Sri Lanka (Hora), Thailand (Pluang, Yang, Heng, Hieng)

Kulim

Family:

Scorodacarpus borneensis

Sceientific:

Distribution:

Description:

Sapwood is well defined. The heartwood is red-brown, weathering to a darker colour. Surface is moderately lustrous. The grain is almost straight or only shallowly interlocked and texture is coarse and even. 

Uses:

Decorative work, superior joinery, furniture, panelling, parquet flooring, show cases, counter tops, office fittings, door and window frames, stair treads and stringers, ship and boat framing, planking, decking, railings, coach work, sliced veneers, rotary-cut veneer, plywood etc.

Technical:

Weight: 753 kg/M3
Kiln drying schedule: D

Veneering:

This timber peels very well and glues satisfactorily and is highly suitable for veneer and plywood making. It is an established species for plywood manufacture.

Equivalents:

West Africa (Nkom, Niangon, Nyankom), Burma (Kanzo), Indochina (Huynh), Indonesia (Mengkulang), Philippines (Lumbayan), Sabah (Kembang), Sarawak (Mengkulang), Thailand (Chumprak)

Mengkulang

Family:

Tarrietia spp.

Sceientific:

Distribution:

Description:

Sapwood is well defined. The heartwood is red-brown, weathering to a darker colour. Surface is moderately lustrous. The grain is almost straight or only shallowly interlocked and texture is coarse and even. 

Uses:

Decorative work, superior joinery, furniture, panelling, parquet flooring, show cases, counter tops, office fittings, door and window frames, stair treads and stringers, ship and boat framing, planking, decking, railings, coach work, sliced veneers, rotary-cut veneer, plywood etc.

Technical:

Weight: 753 kg/M3
Kiln drying schedule: D

Veneering:

This timber peels very well and glues satisfactorily and is highly suitable for veneer and plywood making. It is an established species for plywood manufacture.

Equivalents:

West Africa (Nkom, Niangon, Nyankom), Burma (Kanzo), Indochina (Huynh), Indonesia (Mengkulang), Philippines (Lumbayan), Sabah (Kembang), Sarawak (Mengkulang), Thailand (Chumprak)

Rengas

Family:

Gluta spp, Melanochyla spp.

Sceientific:

Distribution:

Description:

Sapwood is well defined and often very wide. Heartwood is of blood-red colour and attractively streaked. The surface is lustrous. The grain is interlocked and texture is moderately coarse and even.

Uses:

Decorative work, superior joinery, panelling, cabinet-making, wardrobes, fancy boxes, picture frames, trays, fancy handles, joiners' wood planes, walking sticks paper sticks, paper weights, turnery, rotary veneer, etc. It is the favourite wood for weighing scales (dachings). Rengas contains a sap which is poisonous to some people and, therefore, it is not safe to use it for articles that come in constant contact with the human body.

Technical:

Weight: 833 kg/M3

Veneering:

Equivalents:

Burma (Burma gluta, Chay, Thitsi, Thayat thitsi), India (Gluta, Thitsi), Indochina (Son), Indonesia (Rengas), Phlippines (Lingas), Sabah (Rengas), Sarawak (Rengas), Sri Lanka (Badulla), Thailand (Rak)

Simpoh

Family:

Dillenia spp.

Sceientific:

Distribution:

Description:

Sapwood is not well defined. Heartwood is red-brown or purple-brown. The surface when freshly planed is fairly lustrous and radial surfaces have a faint silver figure. The grain is twisted or interlocked or rarely straight and texture moderately coarse and even. 

Uses:

Posts, beams, joins, rafters, door and window frames and sills, stair treads and stringers, flooring, ceilings, frames and bottom boards of boats, oars, sliced veneers, etc. If quarter-sawn, Simpoh has an attractive silver figure and is very suitable for panelling, furniture, parquet flooring, fancy boxes and other decorative work.

Technical:

Weight: 737 kg/M3
Kiln drying schedule: E

Veneering:

Peels easily and considered potentially acceptable for plywood manufacture. 

Equivalents:

Burma (Thabyu), India (Dillenia), Indochina (So), Philippines (Katmon), Sabah (Simpor, Simpoh), Sarawak (Simpoh), Sri Lanka (Godapura), Thailand (San, San-na, Tamasi)

Yuan

Family:

Koompassia excelsa

Sceientific:

Distribution:

Description:

Sapwood is well defined. The heartwood is dark red-brown in colour when fresh, weathering to a dark brown. Surface not particularly lustrous. Ripple marks often clear. The grain is deeply interlocked giving rise to stripe figure and texture is coarse and even.

Uses:

Posts, beams, joists, rafters, parquet flooring, panelling, furniture, walking sticks, office and shop fittings, rotary veneer, plywood, etc. Treated with preservatives, it makes good railway sleepers and it is suitable for all heavy construction.

Technical:

Weight: 833 kg/M3
Kiln drying schedule: E

Veneering:

Equivalents:

Indonesia (Tualang), Philippines (Manggis, Ginoo), Sabah (Raja kayu, Mengaris), Sarawak (Tapang), Thailand (Yuan)

Bintangor

Family:

Calophyllum spp.

Sceientific:

Distribution:

Description:

Sapwood is well defined. The heartwood is pink-brown, red-brown or orange-red in colour which darkens slightly on exposure. The surface is lustrous and streaked with orange coloured lines. The grain is interlocked often giving rise to stripe figure. The texture is coarse and uneven.

Uses:

Light construction, ceiling, flooring, panelling, joinery, furniture, masts, spars, hem and planking of boats, fancy boxes, trays, rotary-cut veneer, plywood.

Technical:

Weight: 689 kg/M3

Veneering:

Equivalents:

Burma (Ponnyet, Tharapi, Thitpyak), India (Poon, Lachini), Indochina (Cong, Mu-u), Indonesia (Bintangor), Sabah (Bintangor, Penang), Sarawak (Bintangor), Sri Lanka (Gunikina, Walukina), Thailand (Ka thang han, Ka thang lan, Tang hon)

Durian

Family:

Bombacaceae spp.

Sceientific:

Distribution:

Description:

Sapwood is not defined in Coelostegia but well defined in the others. The heartwood is pink brown or red-brown or orange-brown, weathering on exposure to a brown colour. The surface is dull and without any figure. The grain is interlocked and texture very coarse and uneven.

Uses:

Light construction, door and window frames, ceiling, flooring, planking, plywood, sliced veneers, coffins and furniture parts. The timber of Coelostegia griffithii is a local favourite for clog manufacture.

Technical:

Weight: 689 kg/M3

Veneering:

The timber is potentially acceptable for plywood manufacture.

Equivalents:

Indonesia (Durian), Sabah (Durian), Sarawak (Durian)

Geronggang

Family:

Cratoxylon arborescens

Sceientific:

Distribution:

Description:

The sapwood is moderately well defined. Heartwood is a bright brick-red in colour when freshly cut, darkening slightly on exposure. Surface is very lustrous. The grain is interlocked or wavy and texture moderately coarse and even.

Uses:

Decorative work, joinery, furniture, show cases, counter tops, laboratory bench tops, panelling, internal fittings, flush doors, fancy boxes, trays, clogs, toys, black boards, drawing boards and plywood. It is in great demand in Singapore for the manufacture of boxes for packing eggs and tinned provisions but judicial use of this timber is for decorative work.

Technical:

Weight: 689 kg/M3

Veneering:

It can be peeled satisfactorily but there is a tendency to tear in handling the veneers.

Equivalents:

Indonesia (Geronggang), Sabah (Serugan, Geronggang), Sarawak (Geronggang)

Gerutu

Family:

Parashorea lucida

Sceientific:

Distribution:

Description:

Sapwood well defined, light yellow brown in colour often discoloured due to sap-stain. Heartwood light-brown with a pinkish tinge darkening with seasoning to a darker pink-brown shade. Planed surface has a medium lustre. Texture rather coarse but even. Grain interlocked giving rise to broad stripe figure. Vertical resin canals with whitish contents is characteristics and visible on all surfaces. The wood is not resinous.

Uses:

Panelling, wall boarding and other general uses.

Technical:

Weight: 689 kg/M3
Kiln drying schedule: E

Veneering:

Has not been tried.

Equivalents:

Burma (Thingadu), India (Tavoy wood), Indochina (Cho-chi), Indonesia (Meranti putih), Philippines (Ligh red Philippines mahogany), Thailand (Khai-khieo)

Jelutong

Family:

Dyera costulata

Sceientific:

Distribution:

Description:

Sapwood not differentiated by colour from heartwood which is white, weathering to a light straw colour. Surface is lustrous and without any figure. The grain is almost straight and texture moderately fine and even.

Uses:

Pattern making, carving, fret work, picture frames, battery separators, drawing boards, blackboards, toys, packing cases, ladies shoe soles, coffins.

Technical:

Weight: 465 kg/M3
Kiln drying schedule: H

Veneering:

Peels easily, but not considered suitable for the manufacture of general purpose plywood.

Equivalents:

Indonesia (Jelutong), Sabah (Jelutong), Sarawak (Jelutong), Thailand (Jelutong)

Kedondong

Family:

Burseraceae spp.

Sceientific:

Distribution:

Description:

The sapwood is lighter coloured but not sharply defined. Heartwood yellow-brown, pink-brown or red-brown in colour, darkening only very slightly with exposure. Surface is mostly glossy and without any figure. The grain is interlocked and texture moderately fine and even.

Uses:

Door and window frames, flooring, ceilings, tiling, battens, planking, boxes, crates, coffins, plywood, furniture parts and general carpentry works.

Technical:

Weight: 577 kg/M3
Kiln drying schedule: J

Veneering:

Equivalents:

West Africa (Aiele, Okoume, Ozigo, Gaboon), India (Dhup), Indochina (Ca-ca, Cham), Indonesia (Merdongdong), Philippines (Kamingi, Pagsahingin), Sabah (Kedondong, Maitus), Sarawak (Upi), Sri Lanka (Kekuna), Thailand (Mafan, Ma koem)

Machang

Family:

Mangifera spp.

Sceientific:

Distribution:

Description:

Sapwood is not well defined. The heartwood is light pink-brown or grey-brown. Occasionally, it has a small black or chocolate-coloured corewood of very distinctive appearance. Surface is lustrous, often with zig-zag markings on flat sawn surface. The grain is interlocked and texture moderately coarse and even.

Uses:

Light construction, planking, ceiling, flooring, packing boxes, crates, coffins, plywood and general carpentry work. Occasionally, the wood is attractively streaked or figured and then makes attractive panelling and furniture.

Technical:

Weight: 561 kg/M3

Veneering:

Equivalents:

Burma (Thayet, Sinnin-thayet), India (Mango wood), Indochina (Xoai-hoi), Indonesia (Mangga), Pakistan (Mango), Philippines (Malapaho, Pahutan), Sabah (Asam belune), Sarawak (Machang), Sri Lanka (Etamba), Thailand (Ma-muang-pa)

Medang

Family:

Koompassia excelsa

Sceientific:

Distribution:

Description:

Sapwood is not always well defined. The heartwood of some species is yellow-brown or red-brown but most of the wood is olive-brown or olive-green, darkening considerably on exposure. Surface is dull and mostly without figure. The grain is interlocked and the texture moderately fine and even. Wood of some species has an aromatic scent like that of camphorwood.

Uses:

Decorative work, internal fittings, switchboards, panels, superior joinery, piano cases, furniture, bowls, platters, trays, T-squares, set squares, tripods, fancy boxes, fancy handles, police batons, pattern-making, veneers, plywood. It is an excellent carving timber and a favourite in the Philippines for sculptural work. The heavier forms of Medang (produced by Alseodaphne, Actinodaphne and Dehaasia species) are very popular with the local people for house construction (posts, beams, joists, panelling) and sea water piling.

Technical:

Weight: 609 kg/M3

Veneering:

Equivalents:

Burma (Ondon), Indochina (Boi-loi), Indonesia (Medang), Philippines (Bati-kuling, Margapali), Sabah (Lisang, Lamaue-amau, Medang), Sarawak (Madang), Sri Lanka (Ranai), Thailand (Kra-thang, Thang, Sirai)

Melantai

Family:

Shorea macroptera

Sceientific:

Distribution:

Description:

Sapwood is moderately distinct almost a bright yellow in a fresh condition, darkening to a grey-pink brown. Heartwood yellow-brown when freshly sawn resembling a yellow Meranti more than a "red Meranti" but darkening in the course of seasoning to a fawn or pinkish buff with a golden lustre. Planed surfaces very lustrous. Texture moderately coarse but even. Grain interlocked giving rise to prominent stripes figure. Vertical resin canals with whitish contents as in Light Red Meranti but they are less conspicuous on all surfaces. The wood is not resinous.

Uses:

Cabinet and decorative work, superior joinery, furniture, show cases, panelling, fancy boxes, sliced veneers, rotary-cut veneer and plywood.

Technical:

Weight: 530 kg/M3
Kiln drying schedule: H

Veneering:

An established species for plywood manufacture.

Equivalents:

Karai

Family:

Annonaceae spp.

Sceientific:

Distribution:

Description:

Sapwood is not well defined. The heartwood is light yellow in colour, weathering to a straw-brown. Surface is not lustrous but radial surface has attractive silver figure. The grain is almost straight and texture is rather coarse and uneven. The rays are generally broad and conspicuous.

Uses:

Sliced veneers, matchboxes and splints, bentwood work, fancy boxes, toys, ceiling, flooring, general light construction, packing cases, crates and police batons. Selected wood probably suitable for parquet flooring, tool handles, walking sticks, police batons, tripods, T-squares, set squares, rulers, sports goods, spools, bobbins, spars, oars, helms etc - a good substitute for Maple wood. (Acer sp)

Technical:

Weight: 673 kg/M3

Veneering:

Equivalents:

Burma (Taw, Tawasgasein), India (Chooi, Andaman, Bow wood), Indochina (Don, Ngan chay), Philippines (Bolon, Dalinas, Yellow lanutan), Sabah (Jankang, Karai, Pisang-pisang), Sarawak (Ako, Karai, Kananga, Kepayang baji, Kelili-jongkong), Sri Lanka (Netawa, Wanasapu)