Wood inspector

Family: Dipterocarpaceae

Common names: Almon, Lauan, Light red lauan, Light red meranti, Light red seraya, Mayapis, Meranti bunga, Perawan, White lauan

Distributed in: Philippines, Thailand (Oceania and S.E. Asia)

Distribution overview: The Light red meranti group of Shorea genus are found in the Malay Peninsula, Indonesia, the Philippines, as well as Sabah and Sarawak. They prefer well-drained soils and usually grow at low altitudes.

Common uses: Beams, Bedroom suites, Building construction, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Construction, Decks, Decorative plywood, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory construction, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Joists, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Porch columns, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets

Product sources: Shorea is a major source of lumber and veneers on the international market. The trees are abundant, and supplies are universally available, especially in the form of veneers. This popular wood is priced in the inexpensive range.Many species in the Shorea genus are also a source of other economically important non-timber products. Seeds of some species yield fat which is used in the manufacture of chocolate. Others produce nuts, the most common of which is the illipe nuts of commerce produced by S. gysbertisiana . The nuts yield a fat which is similar to cocoa-butter in some of its properties. Shorea trees are also tapped for oleo-resin, and typical dammar is obtained from S. wiesneri which grows in Java and Sumatra. The tree of S. robusta produces dammar which is used as a disinfectant and as incense in religious ceremonies in India. Other non-timber products from Shorea are reported to include tannin and fibers.

Environment profile: Little or no threat to its population

Tree size: Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm

Colors: the heart isRed, Whiteand the sapwoodWhite, Yellow.The grain isInterlocked, the textureMediumand the lusterSlightly lustrous

Natural durability: Susceptible to attack by powder-post beetle , Varied natural resistance of heartwood to decay (poor to moderate)

Odor: No distinct odor or taste

Kiln Schedules: T6-D4 (4/4)

Kiln Drying Rate: Naturally dries slowly

Drying Defects: Stock in thinner dimensions may warp during drying , Thick material dries slowly and tends to surface check

Ease of Drying: Slowly

Blunting Effect: Slight blunting effect on cutting tools

Boring: Fairly easy to very easy

Carving: Respond very well to carving operations

Cutting Resistance: May be some break away at the base and back cut when sawing lighter stock

Gluing: Takes glue well

Mortising: good

Moulding: Responds very well to most machine tools

Movement in Service: Responds very well to most machine tools

Nailing: Satisfactory nailing qualities , Very Good to Excellent

Planing: Planing with satisfactory tools is satisfactory if they are kept very sharp

Resistance to Impregnation: Resistant to very resistant to preservative treatment

Response to hand tools: Yields a smooth, clean finish

Routing recessing: Routs easily with ordinary machine tools

Sanding: Lighter stock may produce rough surfaces in sanding

Veneering qualities: Veneers easily, Veneers moderately easy

Steam bending: Wood buckles severely

Screwing: Fairly Easy to Very Easy, Takes screws satisfactorily ; Turning: Turned surfaces of lighter stock may be somewhat rough

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