Merbau tree is a general commercial designation of wood of different species from the Intsia genus of the Legume family. This wood has a number of advantages that experts in various fields have already appreciated. We will talk about the merbau tree, its properties and features in this article.
Description
The merbau tree has a reddish brown color. In its structure, it is characterized by a high level of hardness, is perfectly polished. Its density at a moisture content of 12% is more than 800 kg / m 2 .
It has been proven that the hardness of the merbau tree is much stronger than teak and oak. It is very resistant to various kinds of damage and scratches. Processing this wood does not require additional steps to get rid of fungi and insects. This wood has a 1st and 2nd grade durability, which means “very good” and “good”. Under the influence of light, the color of the wood gradually darkens. In southeast Asia, the merbau tree is considered one of the most valuable.
Using
Merbau has a fairly high commercial value. This is due to the fact that it is widely used in construction. Recently, this tree has been used for the manufacture of facades of cabinet furniture, doors, parquet, parquet, laminate, countertops, balusters, railings, and many musical instruments.
In the Philippines, merbau wood is considered the standard for strength and durability. Other wood samples are compared with it. In European countries, it is primarily used in the manufacture of parquet boards and parquet. Merbau perfectly established itself as a wear-resistant and durable material, ideal for this type of production.
Various decorative panels are made from it to decorate building facades, as well as interior spaces. Due to the increased moisture resistance, this wood is used in the decoration of bathrooms. It is interesting to know that earlier railway sleepers were made from merbau wood, as well as spacer beams used in the construction of bridges and dams.
History
A huge number of trees grow in the tropics, but not everyone has such valuable characteristics as a merbau tree. Several centuries ago, aborigines made canoes from it, which were passed down from generation to generation. Currently, in New Guinea, copies of boats that are more than four hundred years old have been preserved. And also canes, axes and spears, bowls, various decorative ornaments.
These peoples have the expression "strong as merbau", which speaks of the best qualities and strengths of man. During various rituals performed by the natives, bowls from this tree are used as sacred vessels.
Merbau - a tree for the handle of knives. Reviews
This tree is used to make knife handles. In addition to high technical qualities, it looks quite attractive. Use wood of brown and light brown shade. If the merbau texture contains a streak of yellow streaks, then such instances are considered especially valuable.
According to the reviews of the masters, the knife handles made of merbau are durable and not subject to any defects. Such a handle will not receive mechanical damage even when used in the most extreme conditions.
Owners of knives with handles made of this wood note its excellent characteristics. The texture of the tree is dense, which does not allow the knife to slide in the hand when working with it. For example, when hunting, when cutting game, the knife is very convenient to use. In addition to its special strength, this tree looks very aesthetically pleasing, emphasizing the beauty of the blade.
Masters in the manufacture of knives, creating a handle from such a tree, note certain difficulties in the processing process. To achieve the desired result, you have to spend a considerable amount of time using secrets and skill. This is due to the high strength of the material and the features of production technology. However, after finishing work, having polished and varnished the handle, many are happy to note that the work was not in vain. Excellent characteristics and visual beauty once again emphasize the uniqueness of this material.
This wood has such high value, as it allows you to create products of high quality and extraordinary strength.
Products from this wood are appreciated by collectors especially highly and cost a lot of money.
Anti-smuggling
You can see how spectacular the merbau tree looks in the photo. Its magnificent qualities are highly appreciated. It should be noted that due to its high characteristics and value this tree is not cheap. Because of this, the export of such material is under the strict control of such states as, for example, the Philippines, Thailand, Australia and Indonesia. However, there is smuggling, which brings good profit. The authorities are fighting this phenomenon, stopping all sorts of attempts to illegally export merbau abroad.