MALAYSIAN TIMBER - Working Properties

With over 58 per cent of its land area under natural forest, Malaysia is home to over 2,650 species, many of which are of commercial importance. Malaysia's location in the tropics means that its trees have 365 growing days in a year. This allows the trees ample time to grow and develop without seasonal interruptions.

Apart from its intrinsic beauty, wood is highly versatile, has good insulation properties and is strong yet easy to use. Malaysia has an endless selection of timbers from which to choose. Malaysian timbers have been utilised in various applications, including interior designs. The multitude of colours available represents an artist’s palette, enabling an endless expression of creativity.

The working properties of the timbers have been obtained from published data (Lopez, 1978) and (Lee & Lopez, 1980). For each of the three operations mentioned below, the degree of difficulty In the machining process Is cited as well as the quality of the finish obtained. It must however be pointed out that for the purpose of direct comparison, the test specimens were subjected to a fixed set of machining parameters which will not necessarily be the optimum set for any particular timber, especially In respect of the quality of the finish. Manipulation of parameters such as feed speed, knife angle etc. can result in an appreciable improvement In the quality of finish.

Working Properties

Name Botanical Name Planing Planing Finish Boring Boring Finish Turning Turning Finish
HEAVY HARDWOOD
Balau Shorea spp. Difficult Smooth Slightly Difficult Smooth Easy Smooth
Bitis Madhuca utilis, palaquium ridleyi & P. Stellatum Difficult Smooth Difficult Rough Difficult Rough
Chengal Neobalanocarpus heimii Easy Smooth Easy Smooth Easy Smooth
Giam Hopea spp. Easy Smooth Easy Smooth Easy Rough
Red Balau Shorea spp. Easy Smooth Easy Rough Easy Smooth
Merbau Intsia palembanica Difficult Smooth Easy Smooth Easy Smooth
Tembusu Fagraea spp. Easy Smooth Easy Smooth Easy Smooth
Resak Vatica spp. Easy Smooth Easy Smooth Difficult Smooth
Keranji Dialium spp. Easy Smooth Easy Smooth Easy Smooth
Kekatong Cynometra spp. Difficult Smooth Difficult Smooth Difficult Smooth
MEDIUM HARDWOOD
Kulim Scorodocarpus borneensis Difficult Smooth Difficult Smooth Easy Rough
Keruing Dipterocarpus spp. Difficult Smooth Difficult Smooth Difficult Rough
Kempas Koompassia malaccensis Easy Smooth Difficult Rough Difficult Rough
Mengkulang Heritiera spp. Difficult Smooth Difficult Smooth n.a. Rough
Merpauh Swintonia spp. Easy Smooth Very Difficult Smooth Difficult Rough
Meransi Carallia spp. Easy Smooth Easy Smooth Easy n.a.
Mata Ulat Kokoona spp. Easy Smooth Easy Smooth Difficult Rough
Rengas Gluta spp. Difficult Smooth Difficult Rough Difficult Rough
Punah Tetramerista glabra Easy Smooth Easy Smooth Easy Rough
Tualang Koompassia excelsa Easy Smooth Difficult Rough Easy Smooth
Simpoh Dillenia spp. Easy Smooth Easy Rough Easy Smooth
Kasai Pometia spp. Easy Smooth Difficult Rough Difficult Rough
Kelat Eugenia spp. Easy Smooth Difficult Rough Difficult Smooth
Keledang Artocarpus spp. Easy Smooth Difficult Rough Easy Rough
Kapur Dryobalanops spp. Easy Smooth Easy Smooth Easy Smooth
Merawan Hopea spp. Easy Smooth Difficult Smooth Easy Smooth
LIGHT HARDWOOD
Melantai Shorea macroptera Easy Smooth Easy Smooth Easy Rough
Kungkur Pithecellobium spp. Easy Smooth Easy Smooth Easy Rough
KembangSemangkuk Scaphium spp. Easy Smooth Easy Rough Easy Rough
Medang Spp. of Lauraceae Easy Smooth Easy Smooth Easy Smooth
Melunak Pentace spp.   Smooth Easy Smooth Easy Smooth
Kedondong Spp. of Burseraceae Easy Smooth Difficult Rough Difficult Rough
Jelutong Dyera spp.  Easy Smooth Easy Smooth Easy Smooth
Machang Mangifera spp. Easy Smooth Easy Rough Easy Rough
Ramin Gonystylus spp. Easy Smooth Easy Rough Easy Smooth
Dark Red Meranti Shorea spp. Easy Smooth Easy Rough Easy Smooth
Mempisang Spp. of Annonaceae Easy Smooth Easy Rough Easy Smooth
Meranti Bakau Shorea uliginosa Easy Smooth Easy Smooth Easy Rough
Rubberwood Hevea brasiliensis Easy Smooth Easy Smooth Easy Smooth
White Meranti Shorea spp. Easy Rough Easy Rough Easy Rough
Nyatoh Spp. of Sapotaceae Easy Smooth Easy Smooth Easy Smooth
Mersawa Anisoptera spp.   Smooth Easy Rough Easy Smooth
Light Red Meranti Shorea spp. Easy Smooth Easy Smooth Easy Smooth
Sepetir Sindora spp. Easy Smooth Difficult Smooth Easy Rough
Gerutu Parashorea spp. Easy Smooth Easy Smooth Easy Smooth
Pulai Alstonia spp. Easy Smooth Easy Smooth Easy Smooth
Yellow Meranti Shorea spp. Easy Smooth Easy Rough Easy Rough
Petai Parkia spp. Easy Smooth Easy Rough Easy Rough
Geronggang Cratoxylum spp. Easy Smooth Easy Rough Easy Rough
Durian Durio spp., Neesia spp. Easy Smooth Easy Smooth Easy Smooth
Bintangor Calophyllum spp. Easy Smooth Easy Rough Easy Rough
Sesendok Endospermum spp. Easy Smooth Easy Smooth Easy Smooth
Terap Artocarpus spp. Easy Rough Easy Rough Easy Rough
Penarahan Spp. of Myristicaceae Easy Smooth Easy Smooth Easy Smooth
Perupok Lophopetalum spp. Easy Smooth Easy Smooth Easy Smooth
Terentang Campnosperma spp. Easy Rough Easy Rough Easy Rough
SOFTWOOD (Conifers)
Damar Minyak Agathis borneensis Easy Smooth Difficult Rough Easy Rough
Podo Podocarpus spp. Reported to be easy to work and the planed surface is smooth

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Turning

Test results were obtained from specimens turned with a wood- turning lathe. Two head stock speeds were used, viz., 500 r.p.m. (slow) and 1150 r.p.m. (fast). The following chisel type turning tools were used:

  • Skew type; 6 mm, 12 mm and 25 mm
  • Gauge type, 12 mm, 19 mm, and 25 mm
  • Spear point type; 6 mm, and 12 mm
  • Flat nose type, from 3 mm, to 25 mm
  • Round nose type; 6 mm, and 12 mm
    • The degree of difficulty in turning is classified into five categories, viz., Easy, Moderately easy, Slightly difficult; Diff (cult, and Very difficult. The quality of finish is classified into four grades, viz., Smooth, Moderately smooth, Slightly rough and Rough.

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    PLANING

    Test results were obtained from specimens planed with a surface thicknesser. The cutter head speed was set at 400 r.p.m. and a feed speed of 6m/min was used. The degree of difficulty in planing is classified into six categories, viz., Easy; Fairly easy; Moderately easy; Slightly difficult; and Very difficult. The quality of finish of the planed surface is classified into four grades, viz., Smooth; Moderately Smooth; Rough; and Woolly.

    BORING

    Test results were obtained from specimens bored with a machine-borer at a speed of 700 r.m.p. Boring bits used were a 25mm wing boring bit, a 25mm machine dowel bit and a 19mm machine twist drill taper shank. The degree of difficulty in boring is classified into five categories, viz., Easy; Moderately easy; Slightly difficult; Difficult; and Very difficult. The quality of finish is classified into six grades, viz., Very smooth; Smooth; Fairly smooth; Slightly rough; Rough; and Tearing of grain.

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