Assumed, Wood Working Properties & Specifications

 

Pterocarpus indicus

Narra

Family: Leguminosae

Other Common Names: Angsana (Sabah), Sena (Malaya), Amboyna (a name for highly figured veneers cut from burls).

Distribution: Philippines, Borneo, Burma, New Guinea, and the Malay Archipelago. Often planted for shade along roadsides and as an ornamental.

The Tree: May reach a height of 100 ft or more, usually of poor form with a large crown; trunk diameters up to about 3 ft above high wide, spreading buttresses.

The Wood:

General Characteristics: Heartwood light yellow, golden brown, reddish brown, to a distinct red; sapwood whitish or pale straw, clearly defined. Texture moderately fine to moderately coarse and uneven due to the ring-porous structure; grain interlocked and sometimes wavy, together with dark growth bands produce an attractive figure; somewhat lustrous; has a fragrant odor which persists even when dry.

Weight: Basic specific gravity (ovendry weight/green volume) 0.52; air-dry density 40 pcf.

Drying and Shrinkage: Easy to season with very little or no degrade. No data on kiln schedules available. Shrinkage green to ovendry: radial 2.8%; tangential 4.0%. Movement in service is rated as small.

Working Properties: Easy to work with both hand and machine tools; turns well, and takes a good finish.

Durability: Generally, heartwood is reported to be very durable. Some experience is Malaya is conflicting.

Preservation: Reported as likely to be resistant to impregnation.

Uses: A valued furniture and cabinet wood, decorative veneers, novelty items, turning and interior trim.

 

Pterocarpus macrocarpus

Burma Padauk

Family: Leguminosae

Other Common Names: Mai Pradoo, Pradoo (Thailand).

Distribution: Sometimes rather common in the upper mixed and dry forests of Burma; also found in mixed deciduous forests of Thailand.

The Tree: A medium-sized tree, up to 80 ft in height, boles clear to 25 ft straight and cylindrical, sometimes irregular; trunk diameters 2 to 3 ft.

The Wood:
General Characteristics: Heartwood bright yellowish red to dark brick red, streaked with darker lines, lustrous when freshly cut but becoming a dull but attractive golden brown on exposure; sapwood grayish, narrow. Texture moderately coarse; grain interlocked; has a faint spicy odor.

Weight: Basic specific gravity (ovendry weight/green volume) 0.75; air-dry density 54 pcf.

Mechanical Properties: (2-in. standard)

Moisture content Bending strength Modulus of elasticity Maximum crushing strength

(%) (Psi) (1,000 psi) (Psi)

Green (38) 15,975 1,900 8,200

12% 20,640 2,080 10,945

Janka side hardness 2,040 lb for green material and 2,170 lb for dry.

Drying and Shrinkage: Seasons well with little degrade, but does have a slight tendency to surface check. Kiln schedule T6-D4 is suggested for 4/4 stock and T3-D3 for 8/4. Shrinkage green to ovendry: radial 3.4%; tangential 5.8%; volumetric 8.4%

Working Properties: Rather difficult to saw, especially when dry, and also difficult to work with handtools, turns well, dresses to a smooth finish, glues satisfactorily

Durability: The heartwood is rated as very durable and also resistant to termite attack. Sapwood liable to attack by powder-post beetles.

Preservation: Heartwood extremely resistant to preservation treatments.

Uses: Decorative flooring, furniture, cabinetwork, Inlay, tool handles, Turning, billiard tables.

 

 

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