Wood inspector

Family: Magnoliaceae

Common names: Champ, Champaca, Champak, Chempaka, Hangilo, Saga, Sagawa, Sandit, Sanga

Distributed in: India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines (Oceania and S.E. Asia)

Distribution overview: The genus Michelia consists of shrubs and trees, with a growth range that is confined to the Indo-Malayan region and Japan. The genus is represented by about eleven indistinguishable species in India. M. excelsa occurs in the Himalayas, from Nepal eastwards at alevations of 4500 to 8000 feet (1500 to 2400 m) in the Khasi hills.

Common uses: Balusters, Bedroom suites, Building construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Decorative plywood, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Hatracks, Interior construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Moldings, Office furniture, Ornamental work , Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Stairworks, Stools, Stringers, Structural plywood, Tables , Turnery, Utility furniture

Environment profile: Status has not been officially assessed

Tree size: Tree height is 30-40 m

Colors: the heart isLight yellow brown or pale orange brown, eventually aging into deep golden-brown , Purpleand the sapwoodWhitish to greyish white , Yellow.The grain isStraight to irregular, the textureMediumand the lusterMedium

Natural durability: Moderately durable, Very durable

Odor: No specific smell or taste

Drying Defects: Discoloration, Slight twist/warp

Ease of Drying: Variable

Blunting Effect: Small effect

Boring: Fairly difficult to very difficult

Carving: Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult

Cutting Resistance: Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw

Mortising: Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Moulding: Very Good to Excellent

Movement in Service: Very Good to Excellent

Planing: Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Machining properties are good, and the timber responds readily to ordinary tools in planing and other woodworking operations to yield clean, glossy surfaces

Resistance to Impregnation: Extremely resistant

Response to hand tools: Good response

Routing recessing: Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult

Sanding: Excellent sanding properties

Veneering qualities: Suitable for peeling

Turning: Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult

Polishing: Very Good to Excellent; Staining: Good staining properties ;