In South Africa we get largely yellow balau which is of good quality. Dimensions: Balau is currently available in 90X19mm & 140X22mm sizes. It is not a class 1 wood but class 3 which is not recommended for outdoor use.. I’ve noticed a fair amount of expansion and contraction in balau. Tree Size: 150-200 ft (45-60 m) tall, 3-6 ft (1-2 m) trunk diameter, Average Dried Weight: 53 lbs/ft3 (850 kg/m3), Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .69, .85, Modulus of Rupture: 17,730 lbf/in2 (122.3 MPa), Elastic Modulus: 2,457,000 lbf/in2 (16.95 GPa), Crushing Strength: 10,280 lbf/in2 (70.9 MPa), Shrinkage: Radial: 5.5%, Tangential: 10.1%, Volumetric: 15.7%, T/R Ratio: 1.8. General Description: The heartwood is yellow-brown, varying to brown and dark reddish-brown, with an interlocked grain and a moderately fine and even texture. I had some Red Balau (from Batu, sold as decking material) that I made into an end grain cutting board. It is versatile, hard (while relatively easy to work), and for any number of reasons is the most widely used wood in a densely populated corner of the earth. The whole process was an experiment, but the product came out really awesome. Tree description and natural occurrence Medium to large hardwoods, often buttressed, with a straight cylindrical bole between 30 and 50 m long. The balatá is a large tree, growing to 30–45 m (98–148 ft) tall.The leaves are alternate, elliptical, entire, and 10–20 cm (3.9–7.9 in) long. Local names: Selangan batu No.1, alan batu (mature wood), alan The timber of trees of the genus is sold under the common names lauan, luan, lawaan, meranti, seraya, balau, bangkirai, and Philippine mahogany. The faces are cracking lengthwise. I don’t get it, they are saying Red Balau is the same as Philippine mahogany or Luan. I have serious doubt about the durability of Red Balau. This deck table, complete with benches for only: © 2020 Comments: Sometimes referred to as “Lauan,” wood in the Shorea genus is very commonly used in southeast Asia, and there is an abundance of variety between the difference species: each with different working properties, appearances, and mechanical strength values. Further product details Some species may have a slight blunting effect on tools due to small levels of silica present in the wood. If you’d like to contribute a wood sample of this specific species to be scanned, (even small pieces of veneer can be sent), please use the contact form. Shorea is a genus of about 196 species of mainly rainforest trees in the family Dipterocarpaceae. However the question is how to you make sure you are getting the genuine Balau timber not other imitation timber? The majority of Shorea species are listed as being critically endangered due to a population reduction of over 80% in the past three generations, caused by a decline in its natural range, and exploitation. The strength and mechanical values listed at the top of this page represent the average of a handful of species within the corresponding group. It seems to me the climate change could preclude your assertions? Hi Pedro, you can sand them using 120 grit, then finish up with 240 grit sandpaper. Manilkara bidentata is a species of Manilkara native to a large area of northern South America, Central America and the Caribbean. It is basically a meranti or lauan which are used primarily as veneer for plywood. “Shorea” is a genus of trees that contains many species listed by the IUCN as being critically endangered, so hopefully when they claim it is “sustainable” that claim is genuine. Reapply every 3 months or as frequently as needed. CYRUS.Thanks for the information, 4 Yorkshire sliding sashes made of yellow balau, should they be wood preserved before oiling? The wood is moderately difficult to work with machines as the interlocked grains and toughness has a blunting effect on tools. Botanical names: Shorea spp. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information. I have a balau deck around my pool.Over the years(approx.5 years) the deck has dried out and splintered.It is very dangerous if you walk on it bare feet.Any suggestions how i can solve the peoblem? I am haing some cracking in some doors i made with a yellow balau core and a 1/8″ thick face veneer of yellow balau.