Wood inspector

Family: Dipterocarpaceae

Common names: Angu, Apitong, Bebe, Dau, Eng, Heng, Huevos de gato, In, Keruing, Lagan, Lagunero, Mututi, Nogal falso, Palo de pollo, Pau sangua, Sangre, Sangre de drago, Sangrillo, Tro, Yang, Yaya sangre

Distributed in: Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam (Oceania and S.E. Asia)

Distribution overview: Dipterocarps consists of more than 70 species scattered throughout the Indo-Malayan region. The wood of all species in the genus is almost identical in structure. Differences in weight, hardness, and color are no greater than those found within individuals of the same species growing in different areas. They are usually mixed and marketed together under the trade name of Apitong (from the Philippines) or Keruing (from Malaysia). Timbers from Malaysia are the most variable in properties.

Common uses: Beams, Boat building, Building construction, Cabin construction, Canoes, Concrete formwork, Construction, Core Stock, Crossties, Decks, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Domestic flooring, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Figured veneer, Flooring, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Heavy construction, Joists, Lifeboats, Light construction, Pallets, Parquet flooring, Plain veneer, Plywood, Porch columns, Railroad ties, Rough construction, Shipbuilding, Structural plywood, Sub-flooring, Utility plywood, Veneer

Product sources: Some non-timber products include a somewhat viscous, liquid oleo-resin which is produced by some species in the genus. The resin is known as Minyak keruing in Malaysia and is used locally for caulking boats and for medicinal purposes. Pieces of rotten wood, well soaked in the resin are used as fire-lighters or torches.

Environment profile: Vulnerable

Tree size: Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm

Colors: the heart isPinkish tint, Reddish brownand the sapwoodWide, Yellow.The grain isStraight to shallowly interlocked, the textureModerately coarseand the lusterNon-lustrous

Natural durability: Susceptible to attack by marine borers, Susceptible to termite attack

Odor: Strong resinous smell associated with freshly cut wood

Silica Content: Contains silica Some Dipterocarpus timbers contain silica in amounts that are generally less than 0.5% (of ovendry weight). A silica content of 0.05% is usually considered to be high enough to affect the machining properties of wood.

Kiln Schedules: T3 - D2 (4/4); T3 - D1 (8/4) US

Drying Defects: Drying at high temperatures may cause resin exudation, Warping can be expected

Ease of Drying: Thick Stock Requires Care

Blunting Effect: Moderate

Boring: Fairly easy to very easy

Carving: Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Cutting Resistance: Saw teeth blunted rapidly and severely by some stock

Gluing: Fairly difficult to glue

Mortising: good

Moulding: Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Movement in Service: Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Nailing: Satisfactory nailing properties, Very Good to Excellent

Planing: Straight grained and easy to work in most machining operations

Resistance to Impregnation: Sapwood is moderately resistant

Routing recessing: Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Sanding: Good sanding properties

Steam bending: Unsuitable

Screwing: Fairly Easy to Very Easy, Very Good to Excellent Results; Turning: Very Good to Excellent Results

Painting: High resin exudation makes painting/finishing difficult Painting, staining, varnishing, and other surface finishing treatments are generally difficult because of high resin content in most Dipterocarpus timbers. ; Polishing: Very Good to Excellent; Staining: Very Good to Excellent;