Ramin (Gonystylus bancanus)

Ramin is an imported hardwood

Location

Ramin (Gonystylus bancanus) is native to southeast Asia from the Malaysian Peninsula to Sumatra and Borneo.

Characteristics

Both the heartwood and sapwood are the color of pale straw, yellow, or whitish. The grain is straight or shallowly interlocked. The texture is even, moderately fine, and similar to that of American mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla). The wood is without figure or luster. Ramin is moderately hard and heavy, weighing about 672 kg/m3 (42 lb/ft3) in the airdried condition. The wood is easy to work, finishes well, and glues satisfactorily. Ramin is rated as not resistant to decay but permeable with respect to preservative treatment.

Primary Uses

Ramin is used for plywood, interior woodwork, furniture, turnery, joinery, moulding, flooring, dowels, and handles of nonstriking tools (brooms), and as a general utility wood.

*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.