  
Ramin (Gonystylus bancanus)
Family: Thymelaeaceae
Common names: Ahmin, Asana, Badiako, Busilak, Claro, Gaharu, Gaharu buaya, Garu buaja, Garu buaya, Gerima, Gisok-babae, Gisok-puti, Lanutan bagio, Lanutan-bagio, Lapis kulit, Mala-apdo, Malagopinai, Malanagka, Malanangka, Manggasinoro, Medang keladi, Medang ramuan, Melawis, Menamang, Merang, Nangkaon, Panaguraring, Pandit, Panggatutup, Pinang baek, Pulai miang, Ramin, Ramin melawis, Ramin telur, Salasa-ai, Sepetis
Distributed in: Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines (Oceania and S.E. Asia)
Distribution overview: Brunei, Indonesia (Kalimantan, Sumatra) and Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak). G. bancanus differs from other species in the genus in being a peat-swamp species. Habitats are lowland freshwater swamp and coastal peat-swamp forest including peripheral mixed swamp forest and Shorea albida forest. Also found in heath forest. G. bancanus grows at altitudes up to 100m. In Peninsular Malaysia peat swamp forest occurs in low-lying plains just behind the coast, mainly in the central and southern parts of the peninsula. On the west coast the peat forests occur on heavy alluvial clay, whereas on the east coast they occur on coarse sand and white clay. Large areas of peat swamp forest have been cleared for agriculture, with extensive development of oil palm and pineapple plantations. Peat swamp forests are widespread in Sarawak, accounting for 14 736 km2 or 11.9% of the land area. Some conversion to rice and pineapple fields, and coconut and sago plantations has taken place but so far on a relatively small scale. Timber production has been the main use of the forests. The only extensive area of peat swamp with Gonystylus in Sabah is located in the south-west region. G. bancanus occurs in Indonesian peat swamp forests of Sumatra, Kalimantan and Irian Jaya. Estimates of the total peat area in Sumatra and Kalimantan vary between 16.5 and 27 million ha. The species is also a component of freshwater swamp forests in the lowlands of Sumatra, Kalimantan and Irian Jaya.
Common uses: Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Broom handles, Brush backs & handles, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Door, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory flooring, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles, Handles: general, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Mathematical instruments, Moldings, Office furniture, Paneling , Paneling, Parquet flooring, Picture frames, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shafts/Handles, Sporting Goods, Stools, Sub-flooring, Tables , Tool handles, Toys, Turnery
Product sources: This general purpose, utility timber for interior applications is abundant within most of its native range. Shipping costs and the fact that Ramin is used for the same applications as many North American hardwoods such as, Maple are reported to make it less appealing. Ramin is therefore seldom available on the North American market in lumber form. It is often found both on the US and European markets preprocessed into materials such as plywood corestock, dowels and moldings.
Environment profile: Status unsure as a result of insufficient information
Tree size: Tree height is 10-20 m
Colors: the heart isWhite to cream, Yellow to golden-yellow to orangeand the sapwoodSame as heartwood, White to yellow.The grain isWeak figure, the textureMediumand the lusterSlightly lustrous
Natural durability: Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera), Susceptible to marine borer attack
Odor: No distinct taste
Kiln Schedules: UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3
Kiln Drying Rate: Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm)
Drying Defects: Slight twist/warp, Splitting
Ease of Drying: Moderately Difficult to Difficult
Tree Identification: Bole/stem form is straight
Comments: Bands of tension wood may be present in the timber. Crystals are usually abundant.General finishing qualities are rated as good Mineral DepositsRamin has been compared to Hard maple in working properties, except that it is about 5 to 10 percent less dense, and slightly more porous. It is very close to Black walnut in density. Uses for Ramin are rather redundant with those of many native hardwoods of North America.Reaction Wood
Blunting Effect: Medium effect
Boring: Fairly easy to very easy
Carving: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Cutting Resistance: Satisfactory sawing characteristics
Gluing: Glues well
Mortising: good
Moulding: Good moulding properties
Movement in Service: Good moulding properties
Nailing: Possible if prebored, Tends to split during nailing
Planing: Special attention suggested for best
Resistance to Impregnation: Sapwood is permeable
Resistance to Splitting: Poor
Response to hand tools: Good response to hand tools
Routing recessing: Good routing qualities
Sanding: Easy to sand
Veneering qualities: Moderately easy to veneer, No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting
Steam bending: Very poor
Turning: Very Good to Excellent Results
Polishing: Very good; Staining: Satisfactory staining qualities; Varnishing: Satisfactory;
- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
 |
 |
 |
 |
Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,5 |
0,61 |
|
Density |
|
657 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
717 |
1251 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
419 |
675 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
510 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
63 |
86 |
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
104 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
119 |
145 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
8 |
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
3 |
|
% |
Weight |
641 |
624 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
0,63 |
0,98 |
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
187 |
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
333 |
519 |
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | Item | Green | Dry | English | Bending Strength | 10206 | 17802 | psi | Density | | 41 | lbs/ft3 | Hardness | | 1126 | lbs | Impact Strength | 25 | 34 | inches | Maximum Crushing Strength | 5972 | 9614 | psi | Shearing Strength | | 1484 | psi | Static Bending | 4739 | 7389. | psi | Stiffness | 1694 | 2064 | 1000 psi | Toughness | | 163 | inch-lbs | Work to Maximum Load | 9 | 14 | inch-lbs/in3 | Specific Gravity | 0.5 | 0.61 | | Weight | 40 | 39 | lbs/ft3 | Radial Shrinkage | 3 | | % | Tangential Shrinkage | 8 | | % | Volumetric Shrinkage | 12 | | % | |
Max. crushing strength = high 0 Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low 0 Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium 0 Bending strength (MOR) = medium 0 Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. 0 Hardness (side grain) = soft 1 Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = small Max. crushing strength = low Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Max. crushing strength = very low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Bending strength (MOR) = low
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