Category: 1-2
Wood density at 12% moisture content (kg): 800
Also known as: Mirabow, Aizella, Ipil
Botanical name: Intsia bakeri Prain
Origin: Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines
Use:
Used for:
- Exterior and interior constructions
- Window frames
- Parquets
- Veneers
- Cases for chemicals
- Shipbuilding
- Lathe machine products, handles of various tools
- Railway sleepers
Durability: Very durable, Merbau tolerates changes in weather well. It is very resistant to termites and fungi.
Wood description: Sapwood: pale yellow, sapwood is 5 – 8 cm wide. Heartwood: brownish gray to dark reddish-brown, clearly separated, slightly figured wood texture, decorative, contains dark brown particles that leach out due to water and may cause stains on textiles.
Wood treatment:
Cutting: relatively large blunting of tools, it is recommended to use sintered carbide blades
Drying: slow, slight risk of cracks and twisting
Workability: necessary use of hard metal tools, otherwise rapid blunting, planing is difficult
Bonding/gluing: demanding
Nailing/hammering: need to pre-drill holes
Clean workability: easy finishing, easy to wax
