Shorea Plagata (Balau)

Scientific Name
Shorea plagata

Trade Name
Balau

Family Name
Dipterocarpaceae

Common Names
Balau, Balau merah, Membatu, Red balau, Red selangan batu

Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Philippines

Common Uses
Baskets, Bent Parts, Boat building, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Chairs, Chests, Cooperages, Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Flooring, Food containers, Framing, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Hatracks, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Living-room suites, Millwork, Office furniture, Pallets, Paneling , Parquet flooring, Plain veneer, Tables , Veneer, Woodenware

Environmental Profile

Distribution Overview
The Balau group of Shorea grows in Malaysia, Philippines, and Indonesia, and is often found in pure stands. The natural growth range of Shorea genus is rather extensive, from India and Sri Lanka in the west and throughout Burma and several countries in Southeast Asia, and up to the Philippines in the east. The forests of Borneo, Sumatra, and the Malay Peninsula are reported to contain the highest concentration of species in the genus.

Heartwood Color

Sapwood Color

Grain

Texture

Luster

Natural Growth Defects

Natural Durability

Odor

Kiln Schedules

Drying Defects

Ease of Drying

Tree Size

They often develop straight cylindrical boles with adequate merchantable lengths

Product Sources
Shorea is the major source of timber in Southeast Asia. They are plentiful, and supplies are universally available, especially in the form of veneers. This popular wood is typically priced in the inexpensive range.

Many species in the Shorea genus are also a source of other economically important non-timber products. Seeds of some species yield fat which is used in the manufacture of chocolate. Others produce nuts, the most common of which is the illipe nuts of commerce produced by S. gysbertisiana . The nuts yield a fat which is similar to cocoa-butter in some of its properties. Shorea trees are also tapped for oleo-resin, and typical dammar is obtained from S. wiesneri which grows in Java and Sumatra. The tree of S. robusta produces dammar which is used as a disinfectant and as incense in religious ceremonies in India. Other non-timber products from Shorea are reported to include tannin and fibers.

Blunting Effect

It is hard, heavy, and very dense and also because of the presence of interlocked grain

Boring

They are hard and heavy, and usually contain interlocked grain

Carving

Cutting Resistance

Gluing

Mortising

Moulding

Balau timbers are usually hard and heavy

Movement in Service

Nailing

Planing

Resistance to Impregnation

Response to Hand Tools

Routing & Recessing

Sanding

Screwing

Turning

Veneering Qualities

Steam Bending

Polishing

Staining

Strength Properties

It is far superior in strength to either Teak or Hard maple

Numerical Data

References
Arno, J. 1988. Shorea spp. – Luan. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 329-330.

Chowdhury, K.A. and S.S. Ghosh. 1958. Indian Woods – Their Identification, Properties and Uses, Volume I – Dilleniaceae to Elaeocarpaceae. Published by the Manager of Publications, Delhi, India.

Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.

Lauricio, F. M., Bellosillo, S. B., The Mechanical and Related Properties of Philippine Woods, The Philippine Lumber Journal, 12(5):A-H

Limaye, V.D. and B.R. Sen. 1956. Weights and Specific Gravities of Indian Woods. Indian Forest Records (New Series). Timber Mechanics. Volume 1 No. 4. Manager of Publications (Publisher, Delhi.

Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California.