Sepetir

Sepetir is an imported hardwood

Location

The name sepetir applies to species in the genus Sindora and to Pseudosindora palustris. These species are distributed throughout Malaysia, Indochina, and the Philippines.

Characteristics

The heartwood is brown with a pink or golden tinge that darkens on exposure to air. Dark brown or black streaks are sometimes present. The sapwood is light gray, brown, or straw-colored. The texture is moderately fine and even, and the grain is narrowly interlocked. The strength of sepetir is similar to that of shellbark hickory (Carya laciniosa), and the density of the air-dried wood is also similar (640 to 720 kg/m3 (40 to 45 lb/ft3)). The wood dries well but rather slowly, with a tendency to end-split. The wood is difficult to work with hand tools and has a rather rapid dulling effect on cutters. Gums from the wood tend to accumulate on saw teeth, which causes additional problems. Sepetir is rated as nondurable in ground contact under Malaysian exposure. The heartwood is extremely resistant to preservative treatment; however, the sapwood is only moderately resistant.

Primary Uses

Sepetir is a general carpentry wood that is also used for furniture and cabinetwork, joinery, flooring (especially truck flooring), plywood, and decorative veneers.

*Much of the base wood information presented here is made available by the USDA FPL FS. If you are interested in a much more technical description of wood properties, I encourage you to visit the source.