Indian Satinwood

The following information is posted with permission of Timber Research and Development Association (TRADA) and is taken from their red booklets Timbers of the World. © TRADA

SATINWOOD, CEYLON

Chloroxylon swietenia, DC                 Family: Rutaceae

Other names
E.Indian satinwood, satinwood.

Distribution
Central and southern India and Sri Lanka.

The tree
A small to moderate-sized tree, attaining its largest size in Sri Lanka. The bole is about 3m long, and the average diameter 0.3m or a little more.

The timber
There is little distinction between sapwood and heartwood, the wood being light yellow or golden yellow in colour, with the inner wood a little darker than the outer. It has a satin lustre and a ribbon figure, sometimes broken or mottled. Gum rings may produce thin dark veins on longitudinal surfaces. The grain is narrowly interlocked, the texture is fine and even, and the wood weighs about 990 kg/m3 when dried.

Drying
Although the timber has a tendency to surface cracking, and a slighter tendency to warp and twist, careful treatment of material cut green during or immediately after the rains, should give good results.

Strength
A very strong and hard timber with strength properties much higher than those of teak, but strength is of no real importance to the uses to which the timber is put.

Durability
Durable.

Working qualities
Owing to its density, it is a rather difficult timber to work with hand tools, and is fairly difficult to machine, having an appreciable dulling effect on cutting edges, with the grain tending to pick up during planing, particularly on quarter-sawn surfaces. This can be avoided by reducing the cutting angle to 15^o The wood turns well, and takes a fine and lasting polish.

Uses
Furniture, cabinet-work, fancy goods, turnery, jute bobbins and decorative veneer.