USDA Forest Service
Forest Products Laboratory
One Gifford Pinchot Drive
Madison, WI 53705-2398
(608) 231-9200
Wood Technology Transfer Fact Sheet
Shorea spp.
Dark Red Meranti-Red Lauan group
Family: Dipterocarpaceae
Other Common Names: Red lauan, Tangile (Philippines), Dark red seraya, Obar suluk (Sabah), Saya (Thailand), Meranti ketuko (Indonesia), Nemesu (Malaya), Alan (Sarawak).
Distribution: Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
The Tree: A large tree reaching a height of 200 ft and more with a straight cylindrical bole; trunk diameters 5 to 6 ft over moderately large and high buttresses.
The Wood:
General Characteristics: Heartwood dark brown, medium to deep red, sometimes with a purplish tinge, commonly with white dammar or resin streaks; sapwood pinkish, rather poorly defined. Texture rather coarse; grain interlocked, sometimes straight; luster low, without characteristic odor or taste.
Weight: Basic specific gravity (ovendry weight/green volume) averages about 0.55; air-dry density 42 pcf. In Sabah, this grouping of Shorea requires an air-dry weight over 40 pcf.
Mechanical Properties: (First set of data based on the 2-cm standard; second and third sets on the 2-in. standard.)
Moisture content Bending strength Modulus of elasticity Maximum crushing strength
(%) (Psi) (1,000 psi) (Psi)
Green (17) 9,900 1,400 4,920
12% 13,300 1,650 7,670
Green (37) 8,420 1,640 4,350
17% 11,130 1,750 5,740
Green (34) 7,800 1,430 3,880
12% 11,500 1,690 6,000
Janka side hardness 780 to 825 lb air dry. Forest Products Laboratory toughness 292 in.-lb green (2-cm specimen).
Drying and Shrinkage: Moderately slow drying with a tendency to warp, thick material may check and end split. Kiln schedule T6-D4 is suggested for 4/4 stock and T3-D3 for 8/4. Shrinkage green to ovendry: radial 3.8%; tangential 7.9%; volumetric 13.3%. Movement in service is rated as small.
Working Properties: Easy to work with hand and machine tools, dresses to a smooth finish, some tearing of interlocked grain; good gluing and nailing properties; takes a good finish.
Durability: Heartwood is rated as only moderately durable and should not be used in high hazard areas; sapwood liable to attack by powder-post beetles. Not resistant to marine borers.
Preservation: Generally rated as resistant to preservative treatments; sapwood reported to be moderately resistant to permeable, varying with species.
Uses: Veneer and plywood, joinery, flooring, furniture and cabinetwork, general construction, boatbuilding.
Additional Reading: (9), (17), (34), (37), (43)
9. Burgess, P. F. 1966. Timbers of Sabah. Sabah For. Rec. No. 6.
17. Farmer, R. H. (Editor). 1972. Handbook of hardwoods. H. M. Stationery Office, London.
34. Lauricio, F. M., and S. B. Bellosillo. 1966. The mechanical and related properties of Philippine woods. The Lumberman 12(5):66 +A-H.
37. Lee, Y. H., and Y. P. Chu. 1965. The strength properties of Malayan timbers. Malayan Forester 28(4):307-31 9.
43. Meniado, J. A., R. R. Valbuena, and F. N. Tamolang. 1974. Timbers of the Philippines. Gov. Printing Office, Manila.
From: Chudnoff, Martin. 1984. Tropical Timbers of the World. USDA Forest Service. Ag. Handbook No. 607.