merbau

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