Light red meranti (Shorea smithiana)
Family: Dipterocarpaceae
Common names: Almon, Lanan, Light red lauan, Light red meranti, Light red seraya, Mayapis, Meranti bunga, Perawan, White lauan
Distributed in: Indonesia, Malaysia (Oceania and S.E. Asia)
Distribution overview: The geographical distribution of Light red meranti or Light red lauan group of Shorea includes the Malay Peninsula, Indonesia, the Philippines, as well as Sabah and Sarawak. reported to grow on well-drained soils, typically at low altitudes.
Common uses: Balusters, Building construction, Building materials, Concrete formwork, Construction, Interior construction, Light construction, Moldings, Stairworks, Stringers
Product sources: Shorea is the major source of timber in Southeast Asia. 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: Little or no threat to its population
Tree size: Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm
Colors: the heart isWhite, Yellowand the sapwoodWhite, Yellow.The grain isInterlocked, the textureMediumand the lusterSlightly lustrous
Natural durability: Susceptible to insect attack, 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 at a moderate speed
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: Responds readily to carving operations
Cutting Resistance: May be some break away at the base and back cut when sawing lighter stock
Gluing: Very Good to Excellent Results
Mortising: Poor to Very Poor
Moulding: Very Good to Excellent
Movement in Service: Very Good to Excellent
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: Takes screws satisfactorily
; Turning: Turned surfaces of lighter stock may be somewhat rough
Polishing: Good polishing properties after filling ; Staining: Stains satisfactorily after surface preparation
;
- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
|
|
|
|
Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,39 |
0,53 |
|
Density |
|
528 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
454 |
654 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
229 |
407 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
204 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
55 |
58 |
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
66 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
71 |
84 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
8 |
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
5 |
|
% |
Weight |
512 |
416 |
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 | | 33 | lbs/ft3 | Hardness | | 451 | lbs | Impact Strength | 22 | 23 | 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 | 0.39 | 0.53 | | Weight | 32 | 26. | lbs/ft3 | Radial Shrinkage | 5 | | % | Tangential Shrinkage | 8 | | % | Volumetric Shrinkage | 14 | | % | |
Weight=Medium Not hard Dents and marrs easily Density=High 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.WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.
|