Indonesian Mersawa Round Logs:
Mersawa is rather plain, but with a slight silver flecked figure and ribbon stripe on quartered surfaces from prominent rays. Generally the grain varies from straight to interlocked and it has a fairly coarse, even texture. It dries very slowly from green, and it is difficult to extract moisture from the centre of thick stock. The interlocked grain and silica content affects machining, causing severe blunting of cutting edges. Mersawa possesses a low bending strength and shock resistance, with medium crushing strength. It has very low stiffness and a poor steam-bending rating. It can be glued and nailed satisfactorily and brought to a good finish. The sapwood is liable to attack by the powder post beetle. The wood is moderately durable and resistant to preservation treatment. It is used for furniture making and general construction, for interior joinery, domestic flooring, vehicle bodies, and in boat building for planking. It is rotary cut for utility plywood, and sliced for decorative veneers.
