Thitka (Pentace burmanica)
Family: Tiliaceae
Common names: Baru baran, Burma mahogany, Daeng amae, Kashit, Kathitka, Melunak, Melunal, Sisiat, Takalis, Takothet, Thethet, Thitka
Distributed in: Burma, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam (Oceania and S.E. Asia)
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.
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
Environment 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
Tree size: Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Colors: the heart isReddish brown, Yellow to golden-yellow to orangeand the sapwoodYellow, Yellow.The grain isStriped figure, the textureMedium coarse to coarseand the lusterMedium
Natural durability: Susceptible to marine borer attack, Very durable
Odor: Seasoned wood is without distinctive odor or taste.
LightInduced Color Change: Darker
Kiln Schedules: UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5
Kiln Drying Rate: Very slow (>28 days for boards < 32 mm, to >84 days for boards >= 63 mm)
Drying Defects: Slight surface checking, Slight twist/warp
Ease of Drying: Variable
Tree Identification: Bole/stem form is cylindrical
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
Boring: Satisfactory results
Carving:
The wood is fairly hard, but it carves satisfactorily
Cutting Resistance: Satisfactory sawing properties
Gluing: Good gluing properties
Mortising: Mortising characteristics are satisfactory
Moulding: Good finishing
The fairly hard timber responds fairly well to moulding operations
Movement in Service: Good finishing
The fairly hard timber responds fairly well to moulding operations
Nailing: Easy to nail, Good nailing characteristics
Planing: Planes well, to a good finish
Resistance to Impregnation: Resistant sapwood
Response to hand tools: 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
Polishing: Satisfactory; Staining: Finish is generally satisfactory;
- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
 |
 |
 |
 |
Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,52 |
0,57 |
|
Density |
|
657 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
672 |
907 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
332 |
468 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
496 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
|
71 |
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
|
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
107 |
119 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
6 |
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
3 |
|
% |
Weight |
624 |
624 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
|
|
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
|
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
|
|
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | 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 | | % | |
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
Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 3 Southern Asia,TRADA, Red Booklet SeriesBurgess, P.F.,1966,Timbers of Sabah,Sabah Forest Record, no.6Carrapiett, J.B.,1960,Notes on ornamental timbers of Burma,Burmese Forester,10(1,pp37-53Chowdhury, 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, IndiaChudnoff, 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. LondonCox, H.A.,1939,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes RisboroughDesch, H.E.,1954,Manual of Malayan Timbers (2 vols,Malayan Forest Records,no.15Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSOForests Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1956,A Handbook of Hardwoods,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research EstablishmentGamble, J.S.,1902,A Manual of Indian Timbers,Sampson Low, Marston & Co. LondonHoward, 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,1Kribs, 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 LaboratoryLimaye, 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, DelhiLimaye, 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, DelhiPatterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical PressPearson, R.S., Brown, H.P.,1932,Commercial Timbers of India,Govt. Printer Calcutta,2 volsTitmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition
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