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Common Name(s): White Meranti, Lauan, Philippine Mahogany Scientific Name: Shorea spp. Distribution: Southeast Asia Tree Size: 130-200 ft (40-60 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter Average Dried Weight: 38 lbs/ft3 (600 kg/m3) Hardness: 1,040 lbf (4,610 N) Rupture Strength: 12,615 lbf/in2 (87,000 kPa) Elastic Strength: 1,460,000 lbf/in2 (10,070 MPa) Crushing Strength: 6,420 lbf/in2 (44.3 MPa) Shrinkage: Radial: 3.3%, Tangential: 6.9%, Volumetric: 8.9%, T/R Ratio: 2.1 |
Color/Appearance: Heartwood is a pale yellowish-orange when freshly cut, aging to a golden yellow-brown.
Grain/Pore: Has a coarse texture with medium to large pores. Grain is sometimes interlocked. Contains a high level of silica: over .5% of dried weight.
Durability: Varies between species, though usually reported as being non-durable in regard to decay resistance, and also susceptible to insect attack.
Workability: White Meranti is in and of itself easy to work, but it has a very severe blunting effect on tools due to its high silica content, so carbide-tipped cutters are recommended. Also, interlocked grain can sometimes present problems during planing, and sawn/planed surfaces can be left fuzzy or ragged. Sanding to finer grits will help smooth the wood’s surface, and prepare it for a stain or finish. Glues well.
Scent: There is no characteristic odor associated with this wood species.
Safety: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Meranti in the Shorea genus has been reported to cause eye, throat, and skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.
Price/Availability: Meranti is widely harvested and widely available worldwide. It should be moderately priced despite the fact that it is imported, though some specific species of White Meranti are reported to be endangered.
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.
The five main groupings for Meranti (Lauan) are: Light Red Meranti, Dark Red Meranti, White Meranti, Yellow Meranti, and Balau. The strength and mechanical values listed at the top of this page represent the average of a handful of species within the corresponding group.
Also called Philippine Mahogany, Meranti bears no relation to what is considered to be “true” mahogany in the Swietenia and Khaya genera.
Some common uses for White Meranti include: plywood, veneer, boatbuilding, interior furniture, and general construction lumber.
Scans/Pictures: There are currently no pictures of this woods species available for viewing. If you’d like to contribute wood samples to be scanned, (even small pieces of veneer can be sent), please use the contact form.
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