Merbau is also known as Mirabow, and is found in Malaysia & Indonesia. It is generally better known as a hard and heavy timber that is used for flooring, although it is also sliced into merbau veneer.

The wood is rather hard and heavy (830 kg/m3 when dried), and the texture is coarse but even. The grain is interlocked and often wavy, and sulphur-yellow and dark-coloured deposits, that are characteristic of the species, can commonly be seen in the vessel cavities.

Merbau sapwood is whitish to pale yellow and generally around 40-70mm wide. It is sharply differentiated from the heartwood, which can be orange-brown to brown or dark red-brown, weathering over time to darker shades. Lighter-coloured parenchymatous markings often give the wood an ornamental figure on tangential surfaces.

Merbau sometimes has an oily feel, can be lustrous, and generally finishes well. Although a high incidence of gum tends to collect on saws, the yellow deposits are soluble in water. The wood takes stains, varnish, and paint well and has good polishing characteristics, but occasional surface preparation may be required due to oily patches. The wood tends to split on nailing, but holds screws well.

Merbau is durable and experiences small movement due to moisture. Texture is coarse.

Technical details (general)

• Thickness:
  • 18mm to 60mm - others by arrangement (composites up to 100mm)
• Standard sizes:
  • Finger jointed panels made to order up to max 5300x1210mm
• Special sizes:
  • All sizes available, subject to agreement up to maximum 5300x1210mm
• Tolerances:
  • Length/width: typically +5mm/-3mm
  • Thickness: typically ±0.2mm
  • (Others by arrangement)
• Face grades:
  • A/B, others by arrangement
• Bonding Quality:
  • D3 - High moisture applications
• Other features:
  • Other woods can be incorporated into the construction of the panel to achieve a decorative or contrasting effect