Tembusu

Tembusu Wood: A Durable Solution for Heavy-Duty Construction

Introduction
Tembusu is the Standard Malaysian Name for the heavy, durable wood derived from Fagraea spp. Known for its golden to orange-brown color and exceptional strength, tembusu wood is ideal for a variety of heavy-duty applications. Widely found across Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak, tembusu is highly sought-after for its durability and fine texture.

Key Characteristics

• Density: Classified as a Heavy Hardwood with a density ranging from 640-1,075 kg/m³, tembusu wood is incredibly strong and dense, making it perfect for robust construction projects.

• Durability: Tembusu wood is highly durable, resistant to decay, and suitable for long-lasting structures.

• Texture: With a fine and even texture, straight to slightly wavy grain, tembusu offers a smooth finish, making it an excellent choice for both functional and decorative purposes.

Applications

Tembusu wood is versatile and used in both heavy construction and fine craftsmanship:

• Heavy Construction: Ideal for marine construction, posts, beams, joists, and rafters due to its strength and durability.

• Tool Handles: Perfect for impact tool handles, ensuring durability and long-lasting performance.

• Furniture: Tembusu is also popular in creating heavy-duty furniture, offering both beauty and strength.

• Carvings: Renowned for its workability, tembusu wood has an excellent reputation as a carving material.

• Industrial Applications: Used for telegraphic and power transmission posts, heavy traffic flooring, cooling tower structures, and bridge construction.

Drying & Shrinkage

• Air Drying: Tembusu seasons extremely slowly, with 13 mm thick boards taking up to 5 months, and 38 mm boards requiring 16 months to air dry.

• Shrinkage: Tembusu has low shrinkage rates, with radial shrinkage averaging 1.1% and tangential shrinkage at 1.6%, ensuring stability and dimensional integrity during drying.

Machining & Nailing

• Machining Properties: Tembusu is easy to resaw, cross-cut, and plane, producing a smooth surface, ideal for both construction and finish work.

• Nailing: Rated as having good nailing properties, making it easy to work with on-site.

Conclusion

Tembusu wood’s high density, durability, and smooth texture make it a premium choice for both heavy-duty construction and intricate carvings. Its ability to withstand heavy use in industrial, marine, and structural applications, while maintaining its aesthetic appeal, makes it an invaluable resource for builders and artisans alike.

INTRODUCTION

The Standard Malaysian Name for the heavy timber of Fagraea spp. (Loganiaceae). Vernacular names applied include tembusu (Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak) with various epithets, banati (Sabah), meriang (Peninsular Malaysia), temasuk (Sabah) and various other localised names too numerous to be listed here. Major species include F. belukar, F. cuspidata, F. fragrans, F. gigantea, F. resinosa, F. rugulosa, F. spicata, F. teysmannii and F. volubilis. The sapwood is not differentiated from the heartwood, which is light yellow-brown, darkening on exposure to deep golden or orange-brown.

Also known as Kankrao, Tatrao and Trai (Cambodia); Buabua (Fiji); Anrali, Bangkoedoe poete, Kolaki, Nosu, Seranai, Tamosu and Tembesu (Indonesia); Mai man pa (Laos); Anan, Ananma and Burma yellowheart (Myanmar); Dolo, Teca, Tiaong and Urung (Philippines); Keramati (Soloman Islands); Tembusu (Sri Lanka); Kan Krao, Tam-sao and Trai (Thailand); and Trai (Vietnam).

DENSITY

The timber is a Heavy Hardwood with a density of 640-1,075 kg/m3 air dry.

NATURAL DURABILITY

The timber is durable.

PRESERVATIVE TREATMENT

It is difficult to treat with preservatives.

TEXTURE

Texture is fine and even, with straight to slightly wavy grain.

STRENGTH PROPERTIES

The timber falls into Strength Group B (Engku, 1988b) or SG5 (MS 544:Part 2:2001).

MACHINING PROPERTIES

It is easy to resaw and cross-cut. Planing is easy and the planed surface is smooth.

NAILING PROPERTY

The nailing property is rated as good.

AIR DRYING

The timber seasons extremely slowly, with only slight end-checking and surface splitting as the main sources of degrade. 13 mm thick boards take approximately 5 months to air dry, while 38 mm thick boards take 16 months.

SHRINKAGE

Shrinkage is fairly low, with radial shrinkage averaging 1.1% and tangential shrinkage averaging 1.6%.

USES

The timber is suitable for heavy construction, marine construction, posts, beams, joists, rafters, tool handles (impact), pallets (permanent heavy duty type), door and window frames and sills, cooling tower (structural members), telegraphic and power transmission posts, bridges, flooring (heavy traffic), panelling, mouldings and heavy duty furniture. It has an excellent reputation as a carving timber.