Light red meranti (Shorea leptoclados)
Family: Dipterocarpaceae
Common names: Almon, Lanan, Light red lauan, Light red meranti, Light red seraya, Mayapis, Meranti bunga, Perawan, White lauan
Distributed in: Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines (Oceania and S.E. Asia)
Distribution overview: Species in the Light red meranti or Light red lauan group in Shorea genus are distributed in the Malayan Peninsula, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sabah and the Sarawak. The trees are usually found growing in well-drained soils at low altitudes.
Common uses: Balusters, Bedroom suites, Bent Parts, Building construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Chests, Concrete formwork, Construction, Decorative plywood, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Fine furniture, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Hatracks, Interior construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Moldings, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Stairworks, Stools, Stringers, Sub-flooring, Utility furniture, Wardrobes
Product sources: Shorea genus is a major timber source in international trade. They are plentiful, and supplies are universally available, especially in the form of veneers. This popular wood is typically priced in the inexpensive range. Many species in the Shorea genera 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: Status has not been officially assessed
Tree size: Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Colors: the heart isWhite, Yellowand the sapwoodWhite, Yellow.The grain isWavy, the textureMediumand the lusterSlightly lustrous
Natural durability: Varied natural resistance of heartwood to decay (poor to moderate) , Very durable
Odor: No distinct odor or taste
Kiln Schedules: T6-D4 (4/4)
Kiln Drying Rate: Naturally dries quickly
Drying Defects: Thick material dries slowly and tends to surface check , Thinner stock may warp
Ease of Drying: Reconditioning Treatement
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 readily to ordinary tools in boring operations to produce clean surfaces
Movement in Service: Responds readily to ordinary tools in boring operations to produce clean surfaces
Nailing: Satisfactory nailing qualities , Very Good to Excellent
Planing: Very Good to Excellent
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: Poor to Very Poor Results, Takes screws satisfactorily ; Turning: Very Good to Excellent Results
Painting: Very Good to Excellent; Polishing: Very Good to Excellent; Staining: Very Good to Excellent; Varnishing: Very Good to Excellent;
- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
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 |
 |
 |
Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,34 |
0,42 |
|
Density |
|
432 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
454 |
654 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
229 |
407 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
204 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
55 |
53 |
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
66 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
71 |
84 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
8 |
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
5 |
|
% |
Weight |
496 |
400 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
0,42 |
0,56 |
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
|
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
|
|
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | Item | Green | Dry | English | Bending Strength | 6468 | 9310 | psi | Density | | 27 | lbs/ft3 | Hardness | | 451 | lbs | Impact Strength | 22 | 21 | inches | Maximum Crushing Strength | 3263 | 5802 | psi | Shearing Strength | | 951 | psi | Stiffness | 1019 | 1205 | 1000 psi | Work to Maximum Load | 6 | 8 | inch-lbs/in3 | Specific Gravity | 0.34 | 0.42 | | Weight | 31 | 25 | lbs/ft3 | Radial Shrinkage | 5 | | % | Tangential Shrinkage | 8 | | % | Volumetric Shrinkage | 14 | | % | |
Weight=Medium Dents and marrs easily Density=Average/Medium Compression strength (parallel to grain) = medium Bending stength in air-dried condition...is medium
Arno, J. 1988. Shorea spp. - Luan. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 329-330.Chowdhury, 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.Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.Kaiser, J.Wood of the Month:Meranti - The Hardworking Import.Wood & Wood Products, May 1991.Page 48.Lavers, G.M. 1966. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50. Ministry of Technology, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London.Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California.USDA. 1987. Wood Handbook - Wood as an Engineering Material. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook No. 72, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.
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