What tree does meranti wood come from
Ethan Hayes
Published Apr 20, 2026
Meranti wood is a hardwood from the tropical Shorea tree species.
What tree is meranti wood from?
ShoreaGenus:Shorea Roxb. ex C.F.Gaertn.Sections
Is meranti timber a maple?
Maple Timber, or Meranti as its also known, is a highly desired solid timber for non-structural applications. It is a very popular timber becuase of its generally straight grain and reddish brown colour.
Is meranti wood a real wood?
Meranti is a hardwood. On the Janka scale — a scale that ranks wood for hardness — meranti varieties rank between 800 and 825. For the sake of comparison, red oak ranks 1,290. Douglas fir, a softwood, ranks 660.What type of timber is Meranti?
Meranti is a soft to firm hardwood timber. Meranti is not subject to warping or twisting and is dent resistant. Because of its stability it can be used for a wide variety of applications.
Is Meranti good for turning?
Turning tips Round down meranti with a 3⁄ 4 ” gouge and a lathe speed no faster than 1,000 rpm to reduce chipping the wood. The open grain of meranti tends to collect finishing material if you apply it while the wood is spinning. The result is a wrinkled surface. You’ll have better luck turning off the lathe to finish.
Is Meranti a good wood?
Yes. There are several species of tree commonly grouped under the name “Meranti” and each is slightly different in its characteristics, but generally speaking, the wood is easy to work, glues, satins and finishes well and is very suitable for furniture with the exception of pieces requiring bending.
Is meranti wood good for decking?
Meranti is closer to pressure-treated softwood decking in hardness and is moderately resistant to decay and insects, similar to redwood and cedar. Less expensive than other tropical hardwoods.Can you paint meranti wood?
Meranti is Ideal for Home Flooring, Doors, and Furniture Sanding or painting meranti hardwood is also easy. … Once sanded, meranti often appears rather dull compared to other kinds of hardwood. However, you can paint over it with any colour you like. Just make sure you use a primer coat first to cover the open grains.
Is Meranti termite resistant?Light red meranti is a softer wood and not resistant to termites. It can be dried using conventional methods and bonded using standard procedures. While the sapwood readily accepts preservatives, penetration of heartwood is insignificant using current commercial processes.
Article first time published onIs meranti wood good for outdoors?
Lighter and less expensive than popular African hardwoods commonly used for exterior work, Meranti is an excellent option for boats or any other job that will be subjected to harsh conditions.
Can I use Meranti outside?
Meranti is a medium-hardwood, which means it’s not as soft as pine but not classed as a hardwood. … White Meranti is around twice the price of pine, but it is also far more durable for outdoor furniture projects and can be used as a substitute for most locally available hardwoods.
What is merbau timber?
Merbau is a South East Asian rainforest hardwood that is also known as Kwila. It is a durable, dark reddish brown timber that is high in tannin content. Merbau may require repeat applications of Intergrain UltraPrep Timber Cleaner prior to coating. It is commonly used for decking, fences, flooring and panelling.
Is meranti a pine?
Meranti has many of the same desirable qualities of clear pine, but a pinker colour which is most often likened to Victorian Ash. It is available in relatively long lengths, and is therefore regularly used in the construction of staircases and handrails – particularly in federation and heritage style homes.
Can you stain Meranti?
The Meranti timber used on our doors can be stained into multiple colours. This debunked popular beliefs that specific timber colour is required to obtain a desired staining result.
Is meranti wood poisonous?
Allergies/Toxicity: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Meranti in the Shorea genus has been reported to cause eye, throat, and skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information. … Sustainable/certified sources of Meranti are also available.
Is meranti a hard wood?
Meranti is a hardwood with soft characteristics making it perfect for decorative purposes such as mouldings, doors, panelling, joinery and window frames.
How strong is meranti wood?
Modulus of Rupture – Unseasoned:46Modulus of Elasticity – Seasoned:9Maximum Crushing Strength – Unseasoned:23Maximum Crushing Strength – Seasoned:41Impact – Unseasoned:
Is meranti a mahogany?
Meranti is popularly known as Philippine Mahogany in many markets throughout the world. In actuality, the name doesn’t really reflect Meranti’s species or place of origin at all. It doesn’t come from the Philippines, and it’s not a species of Mahogany.
What is Meranti decking?
Red Meranti mahogany decking is one of the most decay-resistant species in the world. … This decking combines the beauty of a kiln dried wood deck material with the built-in protection of a machine applied sealer.
Is meranti wood good for guitars?
Meranti is a bland but viable tonewood choice for electric guitars. In terms of tone, it doesn’t add much, though tonewoods aren’t as important in electric guitars as they are in acoustic guitars. It’s relatively light and easy to work while also being readily available.
Is Meranti good for cutting boards?
If you plan on making this unique cutting board, use Meranti or a hardwood like Teak, to make the cutting board. These woods don’t have large pores that trap bacteria, and are easy to work with.
What is beech wood used for?
A very hard and straight-grained wood, beech is often used in the making of furniture, cabinetry, cooking utensils, tool handles, plywood and sports equipment. Even musical instruments: used for piano pin-blocks and drum manufacturing, beech holds a tone between maple and birch.
What is the strongest wood in the world?
Australian Buloke – 5,060 IBF An ironwood tree that is native to Australia, this wood comes from a species of tree occurring across most of Eastern and Southern Australia. Known as the hardest wood in the world, this particular type has a Janka hardness of 5,060 lbf.
What is the best timber for outdoor use?
One of the most popular choices and considered by some to be the best timber for outdoor furniture, is Teak. It is waterproof, durable and resistant to sunlight. It is also an aesthetically pleasing wood. This wood does not attract any dirt and is also unaffected by insects.
Is meranti wood good for Windows?
Meranti is a versatile hardwood timber suited to a range of projects where aesthetic beauty is a priority. With straight-grain consistency, meranti trees produce long, straight pieces of lumber. … It’s used for moulding, structure, furniture, cabinets, window and doors, and veneers for plywood.
What is poplar wood?
Poplar wood is a species of wood most commonly used in the making of furniture, cabinets, wooden toys, plywood, etc. It is considered a hardwood, but is just about as easy to work with as pine boards or other soft woods.
Is Meranti treated?
Meranti timber veneer does need to be sealed correctly otherwise moisture can be absorbed and cause problems with your products. We recommend treating and protecting Meranti timber on a regular basis using waxes, oils, preservatives, sealers or varnishes.
Is Pine a good outdoor wood?
Pine does not naturally resist decay, and it is pressure treated to make it more durable outdoors. … Pine is still a good choice for outdoor furniture, it just doesn’t naturally resist the elements as strongly as cedar does. Pressure-treated pine will last a long time and resist the outdoor elements.
Is kwila and merbau the same?
Kwila, also known as Merbau, is a tropical timber which naturally grows in various regions throughout the South East Pacific rim, such as Northern Queensland, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Do termites eat Merbau?
Merbau is so tough even termites hate it and want nothing to do with it whatsoever.