PHILIPPINE

WOOD
By: John Ralph A. Magbanua
PHILIPPINE WOOD FOR CONSTRUCTION
Wood species that can be found in the Philippines
that is used for construction:
• ACACIA MANGIUM - Acacia Mangium is used for flooring, indoor and outdoor furniture.

• ACACIA RAINTREE - Acacia Raintree (Roadside Acacia) is widespread in the

Philippines, and growing along roads and rice fields. Cut with DENR permits, this species
is mainly used for turning bowls and gift items.

• ALDER - Alder is available from North America and Russia. A very popular choice for
furniture, as an often cheaper alternative to maple and cherry.

• ASH - Ash is grown in Europe as well as North America. We import Ash in veneers and
sawn timber for the furniture industry and for decorative panels.

• BANGKIRAI - Bangkirai is the Indonesian name for Yakal. It is also available from
Malaysia under the name of yellow Balau. We use this species for our decking products.
Very durable.

• BEECH - Beech is widespread in Northern Europe, and is used for anything from indoor
furniture to flooring, doors and joinery. Not suitable for outdoor use

• BINTANGOR - Bintangor, or Callophylum as it is also called, is an excellent species for

face venners, and also for general joinery.

• BIRCH - Birch wood from Northern Europe is an excellent species for plywood, and indoor
furniture. We import mainly Birch plywood, and component parts.
• CHERRY - Cherry is often a fashion species. We import Cherry as veneers and sawn
timber. Mainly used in the furniture industry, and for kitchen table tops.

• CLADOCALYX (Euc.) - Eucalyptus Cladocalyx is a yellowish and very hard species

and often used as replacement for Yakal and similar hard and durable species.

• FALCATA - Falcata (Albizia) is a very fast grown Philippine plantation species which is
mainly used for plywood core, and exported in quite big quantity for ply-board and
packaging materials.

• GMELINA - Gmelina is one of the most widespread plantation species in the

Philippines. It is mainly used for indoor furniture and for doors.

• GRANDIS (Euc.) - Eucalyptus grandis is used for indoor as well as outdoor furniture
and also for windows and mouldings.

• IROKO - Iroko is an African species which is a very versatile species suited for outdoor
as well as indoor furniture, flooring and joinery.

• JATOBA - Jatoba is grown in Brazil, and is a popular species for flooring in the
Philippines.

• KAMAGONG - Kamagong is an endangered Philippine Ebony type, and apart from few
exceptions it is banned. FILTRA therefore, is not offering this species, but offer
alternatives for similar looks in furniture and flooring.

• KAMARERE - Kamarere (Eucalyptus deglupta) is used for outdoor

• KARRI - Karri (Eucalyptus diversicolor) is excellent for flooring and decking products.
• KERUING - Keruing is well known in the Philippines where it is called Apitong. This heavy
hardwood is mainly used for truck-flooring, and outdoor furniture. Contains natural oils
which can sometimes bleed when used outdoors.

• KHAYA - Khaya ivorensis is an African Mahogany, which we can used for indoor and
outdoor furniture.

• LENGA - Lenga is with a grain like Cherry, and a color like Maple, it is a very popular new
choice for the furniture industry. It can also be used for doors.

• MAHOGANY - Plantation Mahogany in the Philippines can be Swietenia Macrophylla, or

Khaya Ivorensis species. It is mostly 20-25 years of growth and mainly used for indoor
furniture.

• MAPLE - We offer North American Maple and European Sycamore in veneers and sawn
timber. This is a popular species for indoor furniture and decorative panels.

• MENGKULANG - Mengkulang, or Palapi as it is known in Indonesia is very similar to

Niangon from Africa. We import this species from Malaysia, and it is widely used as a
substitute for Lauan, mainly for joinery.

• MERANTI (Dark Red) - Dark Red Meranti is a natural wood species from Malaysia and
Indonesie. It is a Shorea species, and almost identical to “Lauan”, or Philippine Mahogany.

• MERBAU - Merbau is also known as Kwila, or Ipil in the Philippines. It is a hard species,
well suited for flooring and decking, and also popular for joinery and table tops.
• MOLAVE - Molave was earlier a traditional Philippine flooring and furniture species, but it
is an endangered species and therefore not offered by FILTRA. We do offer sustainable
alternatives.

• NARRA - Narra is not available from the Philippines, but is still possible to import from
Solomons and PNG, where it is called Rosewood. As an endangered species, FILTRA has
chosen not to carry this species in our assortment, but offer several sustainable alternatives.

• NYATOH - Nyatoh, also known as Nato in the Philippines, is imported from Malaysia. It is
an excellent wood for joinery and furniture, and often replaces the use of Lauan.

• OAK - Oak is available from Europe and USA. We mainly import white oak sawn timber
and veneers for furniture production.

• OKOUME - Okoume is grown mainly in Gabon and Cameroon, and while it is used
primarily for plywood, it is increasingly availble as sawn timber. Suitable for indoor
furniture and joinery.

• PINE - Pine, and other softwoods are available from Europe, North America, Chile, New
Zealand, and Russia. – We import mainly Douglas Fir, Hemlock, SPF, and carribean pine.

• POPLAR - Poplar is available from Europe and North America. It is a popular species for
hidden parts of furniture, and also for plywood production. Light weight and color.

• RUBBERWOOD - Rubber Wood was developed as a replacement for beech, and is popular
as an affordable species for indoor furniture, table tops, and gift items.
• ROSEWOOD - Philippine Rosewood (Toog) is a natural species which is currently no
longer being harvested. We still have stocks available, cut prior to the IFMA logging
restrictions of 2011. It is a very durable species, which FILTRA has used for decking,
flooring, furniture, and gift items.

• SAPELLI - Sapelli is an African Mahogany type which is very popular as veneers for
paneling and doors.

• TAUN - Taun is the main joinery species available in PNG, and is an increasingly
important species for Philippine sawmills, joinery, and furniture industries.

• TEAK - Teak is one of the best known commercial wood species in the world. Grown
mainly in plantation, but also available in natural form from Burma, it is used for almost
any purpose. Excellent for outdoor and marine purposes.

• WALNUT - Walnut is imported from Europe as well as North America. It is widely used in
high end furniture. We import veneers as well as sawn timber.
ALLOWABLE WORKING STRESS
WEIGHTS OF WOOD
How to Estimate How Much Wood Weighs

The weight of wood varies by the species of wood and the moisture content of the lumber. Green lumber will weigh significantly
more than kiln dried boards due to its higher density.

Find Wood Density

To find how much wood weighs start by finding the density of the wood. Use the wood density chart below to find
the density for different species of wood.

Find Wood Volume

Once you have the density of the wood you need to find the volume of the wood in cubic feet or cubic meters. If you
know the board footage of the lumber, divide it by 12 to find the volume in cubic feet. Our board footage calculator
can help find the volume of your wood in board feet.
You can also calculate the volume of lumber by measuring the length, width, and thickness in inches and multiplying
them together. This will get the volume in cubic inches. Divide the volume in cubic inches by 1,728 to find the
volume in cubic feet. Out cubic inches to cubic feet conversion utility can help with this.

Find Weight of Wood

After you have the density and the volume, multiply them together to find the total weight.
For plywood, learn how to estimate the weight of plywood panels.
Density of Wood Species

The density or hardness of wood varies by species, and the value is necessary to approximate the weight of lumber by volume. In
this table, the density of different species of wood is expressed as weight in pounds per cubic foot and kilograms per cubic meter.
The density will vary based on the moisture content of the wood.

Density
Wood Species 10³ kg/m³ lb/ft³ Box 0.95 – 1.2 59 – 72
Alder 0.4 – 0.7 26 – 42 Butternut 0.38 24
Afrormosia 0.71 44 Cedar of 0.58 36
Agba 0.51 32 Lebanon
Cedar, Western 0.38 23
Apple 0.65 – 0.85 41 – 52
Red
Ash, White 0.65 – 0.85 40 – 53
Cherry, 0.63 – 0.9 43 – 56
Ash, Black 0.54 33 European
Ash, European 0.71 44 Chestnut, Sweet 0.56 30
Aspen 0.42 26 Cottonwood 0.41 25
Balsa 0.11 – 0.16 7–9 Cypress 0.51 32
Bamboo 0.3 – 0.4 19 – 25 Dogwood 0.75 47

Basswood 0.3 – 0.6 20 – 37 Douglas Fir 0.53 33

Beech 0.7 – 0.9 32 – 56 Ebony 1.1 – 1.3 69 – 83

Birch, British 0.67 42 Elm, American 0.57 35
Birch, European 0.67 42
 Elm, English 0.55 – 0.6 34 – 37 Madrone 0.74 45

Elm, Dutch 0.56 35 Magnolia 0.57 35

Elm, Wych 0.69 43 Mahogany, African 0.5 – 0.85 31 – 53

Elm, Rock 0.82 50 Mahogany, Cuban 0.66 40

Gaboon 0.43 27 Mahogany, Honduras 0.65 40

Greenheart 1.04 64.9 Mahogany, Spanish 0.85 53

Gum, Black 0.59 36 Maple 0.6 – 0.75 39 – 47

Gum, Blue 0.82 50 Meranti, Dark Red 0.71 44

Gum, Red 0.54 35 Myrtle 0.66 40

Hackberry 0.62 38 Oak 0.6 – 0.9 37 – 56

Hemlock, 0.5 31 Oak, American Red 0.74 45

Western
Oak, American White 0.77 47
Hickory 0.83 37 – 58
Oak, English Brown 0.74 45
Holly 0.75 47
Obeche 0.39 24
Iroko 0.66 41
Oregon Pine 0.53 33
Juniper 0.55 35
Parana Pine 0.56 35
Keruing 0.74 46
Pear 0.6 – 0.7 38 – 45
Lime,Larch
European 0.5 0.56
– 0.55 31 35
– 35
Pecan 0.77 47
Philippine Red Luan 0.59 36
Lignum Vitae
Locust 1.17
0.65––1.33
0.7 73
42––83
44 Persimmon
Pine, Corsican 0.9
0.51 55
32
Logwood 0.9 57
Pine, Pitch 0.67 52
 Pine, Radiata 0.48 30 Teak, African .98 61
Pine, Scots 0.51 32 Teak, Burma 0.74 45
Pine, White 0.35 – 0.5 22 – 31
Utile 0.66 41
Pine, Yellow 0.37 – 0.59 23 – 37
Walnut 0.65 – 0.7 40 – 44
Plane, European 0.64 40
Walnut, Amer Black 0.63 39
Plum 0.65 – 0.8 41 – 49

Poplar 0.35 – 0.5 22 – 31 Walnut, Claro 0.49 30

Ramin 0.67 42 Walnut, European 0.57 35

Redwood, American 0.45 28 Water Gum 1 62

Redwood, European 0.51 32
Whitewood, European 0.47 29
Rosewood, Bolivian 0.82 50
Willow 0.4 – 0.6 24 – 37
Rosewood, East Indian 0.9 55
Yew 0.67 42
Sapele 0.64 40
Zebrawood 0.79 49
Satinwood 0.95 59

Spruce 0.4 – 0.7 25 – 44

Spruce, Canadian 0.45 28

Spruce, Norway 0.43 27

Spruce,
SycamoreSitka 0.40.45
– 0.6 2428– 37
Spruce, Western White 0.45 28
Tanguile 0.64 39

Teak, Indian 0.65 – 0.9 41 – 55

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF WOOD
 The main physical properties of wood include: color, luster, texture, macro-structure, odor, moisture, shrinkage, internal
stresses, swelling, cracking, warping, density, sound - electro - thermal conductivity. Сolor, shine, texture and macrostructure
determine the appearance of wood.
Wood of different breeds have different color - from white - aspen, spruce to black - ebony. Tannins, resin and pigments, founded in
cells cavities, make wood more colourfull.

Timber gloss - is the ability to reflect light beam pointedly. It depends on wood density, size and location of medullary rays, which
reflect light rays pointedly, thereby creating the shine on the radial aspect. Beech wood, maple, oak, elm have the most characteristic
luster. Aspen, poplar and linden has a matte surface due to a very narrow medullar rays, and thin cells walls. wood gloss surface is
enhanced and preserved for long periods of time by creating transparent protective - decorative coatings.

Texture - is a peculiar pattern formed by the medullary rays, fibers, and yearly layers of wood in different contexts. Texture
saturation is determined by anatomical features of arboreous breeds structure and the section direction, and by the colour of early
and late wood, rippling and by mixed up fibre arrangement.

Humidity - is the ratio of moisture mass in a given wood volume to the weight of absolutely dry wood, expressed as a percentage.
Moisture, soaking the cell membrane, named the bound or hygroscopic, and moisture that fills the cavity of the cells and
intercellular spaces, named free or capillary.

Plasticity - is the feature of wood to change its original shape under the action of applied forces and keep a new form after
termination of the force. Bending, stamping, etc are based on this feature. Decidous wood breeds are better come under the
bending(oak, ash, etc.) and absent-mindedly - vascular. Conifers have low ability to bend. Wet wood has higher ability to bend than
dry wood.

Fragility - is the ability of wood to break down suddenly without significantly shape changing under the action of mechanical
forces.
Shrinkage - is a reduction of linear measurements and wood volume during drying. Shrinkage occurs only during connected water
evaporation. Shrinkage in the tangential direction is 6 - 10% in the radial 3 - 5% and along the grain 0.1 - 0.3%. Decrease of wood
volume during connected water evaporation is called volumetric shrinkage. Full volumetric shrinkage of 12 - 15%. During bucking,
allowances for shrinkage are forseen, because carving wood and procurements have to be of a given size.

Сleavability - is the ability of wood to break down along the grain during penetration a wedge-shaped body into it. Wedge or
hatchet, embedded into the wood, moves fiber apart, bend them to different sides and separates one part of fiber from another,
forming a crack that goes in front of the blade of the wedge. It is easy to break up all the conifers and from hardwoods - beech,
aspen, basswood, oak.

Impact strength - is the ability of wood to absorb the work without breaking.

Hardness - is the feature of wood to resist the introduction of body of a certain form. The hardness of the end surface is higher
tangential and radial hardness to 30% for hardwood and 40% for softwood. According to the degree of hardness all tree species
could be divided into three groups: mild - mechanical strength 40 MPa or less (spruce, pine, cedar, fir, poplar, linden, aspen, alder);
solid - mechanical hardness 40,1.80 MPa (larch, birch, beech, oak, elm, elm, elm, sycamore, maple, hazel, walnut, apple, ash) are
very solid - mechanical strength over 80 MPa (locust, birch, steel, hornbeam, dogwood, boxwood, yew).

Resilience - is the ability of timber to restore the original shape after the termination of the external forces. If these forces exceed a
certain amount (the limit of elasticity), wood is either destroyed or changeits shape.

Macrostructure is characterized by the width of annual rings - the number of annual rings per 1 cm of segment, measured in the
radial direction in cross section. Softwood have good physical - mechanical features when the number of layers varies from 3 to 25.
The percentage of late wood in timber is determined by softwood samples. The higher late wood content in timber, the more the
density and better mechanical wood characteristics.
Essential oils, resins, tannins and other substances, founded in certain tree species, give them a smell.
Internal stresses - are stresses in the wood - round carving wood and sawn timber without an application of external forces. Its
reason - is an inequality of moisture distribution along section of drying wood. In majority of wood drying technologies, water
evaporates firstly from surface wood layers. And if it will be less than hydroscopic limit, that is 30%, shrinkage is happening. At the
same time internal layers remain more humid, and this makes the process of surface layers shrinkage more difficult. In the issue
internal tension occurs in timber, aand this tension stretch the wood out in surface zones and squeeze in internal. When the wood
humidity is decreasing out of the hydroscopic limit in internal zone, it will be also dry. In the issue traction tension in surface zone is
decreasing, but not fully. Because of residual lengthening in surface layers normal shrinkage will be delayed.

Warping - is a change in the form of the cross section during drying or wetting wood. Warping could be transverse and longitudinal.
Lateral buckling is expressed by changing the form of board sectoin. Its reason - is different shrinkage in the radial and tangential
directions.