Kapur

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Name kapur
Other Names Kapoer (The Netherlands), sintok, keladan, kapur-kejatan (Malaysia), empedoe, singkelkamferhout, sintok, petanang (Indonesia), Borneo camphor-wood (not advised), swamp kapur (Borneo).
Botanical Name Dryobalanops aromatica Gaertn. f., D. fusca v. Sl., D. lanceolata Burck, D. oblongifolia Dyer, D. oocarpa v. Sl. ex K. Heyne, D. spec. div..
Family Dipterocarpaceae.
Origin Malaysia, Indonesia, Sabah, Sarawak.
Tree Description Grows to heights between 60 and 75 m. Above well-developed root buttresses, long, smooth, cylindrical trunks grow to lengths of 27 to 30 m and diameters of 0.9 to 1.5 m (max. 4.5 m). Very heavy trunks can have spongy hearts.
Available As Planed timber
Wood Description Heartwood colours vary from light to dark reddish brown. Sapwood ranges from 20 to 60 mm in width, is yellowish brown in colour and is clearly distinguishable from the heartwood. Surfaces have visible whitish lines caused by tangential resin ducts that resemble growth rings. These lines do not present a problem for clear varnishes, as they absorb the varnish and become invisible. Wood has no resinous properties as, for example, keruing. Very small wormholes (pin holes) caused by wet wood burrowers. No risk of continued attack in sawn or dried wood. Freshly processed wood has a characteristic camphor odour (hence the name camphor wood) that dissipates while drying. Kapur is not camphor however.
Wood Type Hardwood
Grain Straight or interlocked.
Texture Moderately coarse.
Density (600)/630/770/790/(800) kg/m3 at 12% humidity, 1000 to 1200 kg/m3 when green.
Working Major.
Drying Dries fairly slowly with a tendency for distortion and hairline cracking. Differences in kapur variety properties should be taken into account.
Workability Kapur can be machined and manually worked relatively easily. Some kapur varieties contain silicon that blunts cutting tools. Hardened metal cutting tools are recommended. Use a 20 degree cutting angle when planing kapur with interlocked grains to prevent protruding fibres.
Fixings and Fasteners Poor. Pre-drilling recommended.
Bonding Good.
Pliability Average.
Surface Finishing Good.
Durability Moulds 1 - 2. Termites M.
Strength Class
Impregnability Heartwood 4. Sapwood 1.
Peculiarities Non-corrosive fasteners should be used for outdoor applications due to presence of tannin.
Applications Kapur is used for indoor and outdoor woodwork, frames, windows, doors, casing, plinths, treads, yacht frames and hulls, bodywork, flooring, park benches, etc. Experiences with kapur used outdoors are disappointing, as fine hairline cracks appear even after surface finishing has been applied. Kapur is used for the manufacture of Triplex.
Quality Requirements

Source: Houtvademecum, 8e druk 2001

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