Top 7 Timber varieties being traded in Nangloi

Hi, i am Abhishek, today i'll be sharing what i consider to be the top 7 timber varieties being traded in the Nangloi Timber Market.

1. Spruce Pine Wood

Common Name: Spruce Pine
Scientific Name: Pinus glabra
Distribution: Southeastern United States (coastal plain)
Tree Size: 65-100 ft (20-30 m) tall, 2-3 ft (.6-1 m) trunk diameter

Heartwood is reddish brown, sapwood is yellowish white. Straight grained with a fine to medium texture. Large resin canals, numerous and evenly distributed, mostly solitary; early wood to late wood transition abrupt, color contrast relatively high; tracheid diameter medium-large. The heartwood is rated as moderate to low in decay resistance. Overall, Spruce Pine works fairly well with most tools, though the resin can gum up tools and clog sandpaper. Spruce Pine glues and finishes well. Has a distinct smell that is shared among most species in the Pinus genus. 

2. Dark Red Meranti

Common Name: Dark Red Meranti

Scientific Name: Shorea spp.

Distribution: Southeast Asia

Tree Size: 65-130 ft (20-40 m) tall, 3-6 ft (1-2 m) trunk diameter.

Typically a dark reddish or purplish brown; commonly with white resin streaks present. Grain can be straight or interlocked. With a coarse texture and low natural luster.  Diffuse-porous; large to very large pores in no specific arrangement, few to very few; solitary and radial multiples of 2-3; tyloses occasionally present; parenchyma vasicentric, winged, and banded with embedded resin canals; narrow to medium rays, spacing normal. Reported as moderately-durable to non-durable in regard to decay resistance, but is susceptible to insect attack. 

3. Yellow Meranti

Common Name(s): Yellow Meranti, Lauan, Philippine Mahogany

Scientific Name: Shorea spp.

Distribution: Southeast Asia

Tree Size: 130-200 ft (40-60 m) tall, 5-6 ft (1.5-2 m) trunk diameter

Typically a yellow to yellow-brown, which tends to darken with age. Has a coarse texture with medium to large pores. Grain is sometimes interlocked.  Reported as non-durable in regard to decay resistance, and is also susceptible to insect attack. Typically easy to work, though any interlocked grain can present problems during planing. Some species may have a slight blunting effect on tools due to small levels of silica present in the wood. Glues, stains, and finishes well. No characteristic odor.

4. European Steam Beech

Common Name: European Beech

Scientific Name: Fagus sylvatica

Distribution: Europe

Tree Size: 100-130 ft (30-40 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter

Beech is typically a pale cream color, sometimes with a pink or brown hue. Veneer tends to be slightly darker colored, as slicing the veneer usually requires the wood to be prepared with steam, which gives the wood a more golden tone. Grain is straight, with a fine to medium uniform texture. Moderate natural luster. Beech is considered non-durable or perishable; it is also susceptible to insect attack. Overall good work ability; it machines well, and glues, finishes, and turns well. Beech also responds superbly to steam-bending. It does, however, have a large amount of movement in service, so movement and wood stability must be taken into account.

5. Brown Sal Wood

Common Name: Brown salwood

Scientific Name: Acacia aulacocarpa

Distribution: Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia

Sal Wood, scientifically known as Shorea Robusta, is one of the most important sources of hardwood timber in India, with hard, coarse-grained wood that is light in colour when freshly cut, but becomes dark brown with exposure. The wood is very durable, and is sought-after for construction, although not well suited to planing and polishing. The wood is especially used in India for constructing high end front doors which are extremely heavy in weight and chaukhats that are used to install such doors.

6. Teak

Common Name(s): Teak, Burmese Teak

Scientific Name: Tectona grandis

Distribution: Native to southern Asia; Widely grown on plantations throughout tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Tree Size: 100-130 ft (30-40 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter

Heartwood tends to be a golden or medium brown, with color darkening with age. Grain is straight, though it can occasionally be wavy or interlocked. Coarse, uneven texture and moderate to low natural luster. Raw, unfinished wood surfaces have a slightly oily or greasy feel due to natural oils. Teak can have a leather-like scent when freshly milled. This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Commonly used in Ship and boat building, veneer, furniture, exterior construction, carving, turnings, and other small wood objects.

7. Mango

Common Name(s): Mango, Hawaiian Mango

Scientific Name: Mangifera indica

Distribution: Tropical Asia and Oceania

Tree Size: 80-100 ft (24-30 m) tall, 3-4 ft (1-1.2 m) trunk diameter

Because of the spalting that is commonly present, the wood can be a kaleidoscope of colors. Under normal circumstances, heartwood is a golden brown, while other colors such as yellow and streaks of pink and/or black can also occur. Paler sapwood is not always clearly defined. Curly or mottled grain patterns are also common. Grain can be straight or interlocked. With a medium to coarse texture and good natural luster. Mango is rated anywhere from moderately durable to perishable. However, Mango is also susceptible to both fungal and insect attack. Commonly used in making furniture, ukuleles, veneer, plywood, turned objects, and flooring.