Kwila (Merbau)

COMMON APPLICATIONS

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The heartwood is yellowish-brown, brown or dark red, red-brown, turning to a dark red-brown with age. The wood is hard and heavy, the texture is moderately coarse but even and the grain may be straight or interlocked and is often wavy. Sulphur-yellow and dark colored deposits are characteristic of the species and can be commonly seen in the vessel cavities.

Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, but is on the IUCN Red List. It is listed as vulnerable due to a population reduction of over 20% in the past three generations, caused by a decline in its natural range, and exploitation.

We do not recommend acrylic coating, since it changes the natural color. See Jarrah.

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Botanical Name:	Intsia spp
Other Names:	Merbau (Malaysia), Vesi (Fiji)
Origin:	Southwest Asia

Overview
Basic Info
Technical

General

Certifications Available::
Seasoning:	The timber dries slowly without appreciable degrade but if submitted to rapid drying conditions, there is a definite tendency for end splitting and surface checking to occur. It has a low shrinkage factor.
Working Qualities:	Saws well, however, with the fairly high incidence of gum, saws tend to become clogged. It planes well but there is a tendency for the grain to tear out in quarter-sawn material. A reduction in the cutting angle to 20º is beneficial. The wood tends to split when nailing but holds screws well and can be stained and polished reasonably well, however, patches of oil that exude may affect the finish. The yellow deposits are soluble in water and the dye produced does stain. If, however, early attention is given to any staining it can generally be removed by scrubbing with milk or lactic acid.
Uses:	Very good heavy construction timber. Ideally suited for decking and outdoor furniture. It is also used in internal joinery and flooring, striking tool handles and carving.
Price (1-10):	4

Availability

Availability:	Available ex-stock in Kiln Dried sizes from 100x25 to 300x50mm, and Air Dried sizes 75x75 to 300x75mm
Stocked:	Yes

Durability

Durability Above Ground:

Durable

Density

Density Air Dry:

870 kg/m³

Shrinkage

Shrinkage Radial:	0 - 2.0 %
Shrinkage Tangental:	1.0 - 3.0 %

Stability

Stability Kiln Dry:	Very stable
Stability Green:	Stable

Mechanical Properties

Janka Hardness:	14 kN
Modulus of Rupture:	147 MPa
Modulus of Elasticity:	18 GPa
Max Crush Strength:	81 MPa