COMMON NAMES:   Ceylon satinwood, East Indian satinwood

SPECIFIC GRAVITY:   .98

DENSITY:  62 lbs./cu.ft.

TANGENTIAL MOVEMENT:   7%

RADIAL MOVEMENT:   5%

VOLUMETRIC SHRINKAGE:

DURABILITY1:   Moderate

SOURCE:  Southeast Asia-- India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka

DESCRIPTION:   A dense and hard wood, mainly used for decorative purposes. Somewhat higher in strength than European Beech. Heartwood is light to golden yellow, darkening to a soft brown. Sapwood is not distinct but paler in color than the inner wood. High lustre. Interlocked grain, sometimes having dark gum veins which cause splits. Fine and even texture. Moderate blunting effect on cutting edges. When planing, a cutting angle of 15 degrees is required. Difficult to glue. Turns, stains and polishes well. Used for furniture, cabinets, interior joinery, decorative veneering.

1 Durability refers to a wood's resistance to rotting in wet environments.