Meranti

Meranti

Durability:

Meranti Sapwood liable to attack by powder post beetle. All species of Meranti wood are moderately durable to durable, and moderately to extremely resistant to preservative treatment.

Mechanical Properties:

Meranti wood tends to be easy to work with and responds well to both glue and nails. It also machines well. Meranti timber has medium bending and crushing strengths, but the stiffness factor is low. In addition to this, it has a low resistance to shock loads. Severe buckling occurs in steam bending and distortion during drying. The steam bending classification is poor.

Seasoning:

Meranti hardwood is slower drying than light meranti, has a tendency to distort and risk of splitting and checking in thicker material. It also undergoes small movement in service.

Uses:

  • As Meranti is categorised as a hardwood, it is suitable for both exterior and interior joinery
  • The nature of the Meranti timber means it is commonly used in shopfitting, boatbuilding, flooring and doors
  • For exterior use, such as cladding, the wood should first be treated
  • It has many of the same uses as light red meranti plywood for which it can be rotary cut or sliced for decorative veneers
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Description

Meranti is a tropical hardwood usually found in South East Asia. The heartwood colour is medium to dark red brown with conspicuous white dammar or resin streaks. The sapwood of Meranti wood however is lighter in colour. The grain is interlocked and wavy giving Meranti a coarse texture. Brittle heart can also be present. Meranti timber tends to have a weight from 580-770 kg/m³ (36-48 lb/ft³) with an average of 670 kg/m³ (42 lb/ft³) and a specific gravity 0.67.

Additional information

Latin Name

Chlorophora excelsa

Family Name

Moraceae

Also know as

Nemesu Malaysia; dark red lauan UK and Philippines; red lauan Philippines; tangile and bataan Philippines; mayapis and tiaong Philippines; oba suluk Sabah

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