Wood Species - Merbau

MERBAU
Intsia spp.
Appearance
Color: Heartwood is yellowish to orange-brown when freshly cut, turning
brown or dark red-brown upon exposure.
Grain: Straight to interlocked or wavy; coarse texture.
Variations within species and grades: Moderate to high variation in color.
Properties
Hardness (Janka): 1925; 49% harder than Northern red oak.
Dimensional Stability: Excellent (change coefficient .00158; 57% more
stable than red oak). However, actual installations have demonstrated significant
movement in use.
Durability: Strength is comparable to hickory, but density is somewhat
lower.
Workability
Sawing/Machining: Sawing is difficult; wood gums saw teeth and dulls
cutting edges; carbide tooling recommended.
Sanding: Sands satisfactorily.
Nailing: Good holding ability.
Finishing: Wood stains black in contact with ferrous metals or moisture.
Comments: High resistance to termites.
From The National Wood Flooring
Association's "Wood Species Used in Wood Flooring" information booklet.
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