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Color/Appearance: Tends to be a almost white to pale yellow, sometimes grayish. Sapwood and heartwood not differentiated. Prone to spalting and blue fungal staining (as in the case of the pictured sample).
Grain/Texture: Grain is straight or slightly interlocked, and usually without any notable figure or character. Texture is medium to fine, with a low surface luster.
Endgrain: Diffuse-porous; medium to very large pores in no specific arrangement, few; solitary and radial multiples of 2-3; heartwood mineral/gum deposits (amber-colored) occasionally present; narrow rays may be faintly visible without lens, fairly close spacing; parenchyma winged.
Rot Resistance: Rated as non-durable to perishable regarding decay resistance, and also susceptible to insect attacks.
Workability: Overall good working characteristics with both hand and machine tools. However, Ramin does have a tendency to splinter during cross-cutting operations. Glues, turns, and finishes well.
Odor: Has a strongly unpleasant scent while green, which mostly subsides once fully seasoned.
Allergies/Toxicity: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Ramin has been reported to cause eye and skin irritation, as well as other side effects such as asthma-like symptoms and increased tendency for splinters to get infected. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicityand Wood Dust Safetyfor more information.
Pricing/Availability: Ramin has been over-exploited in the past, and is now listed on CITES Appendix II as an endangered species(this includes the entire Gonystylus genus). Although a strong and useful wood, many suitable domestic alternatives are much more readily available. Trade of Ramin is likely to remain restricted to its natural range within southeast Asia.
Sustainability: This wood species is in CITES Appendix II, and is on the IUCN Red List. It is listed as vulnerable due to a population reduction of over 20% in the past three generations, caused by a decline in its natural range, and exploitation.
Common Uses: Furniture, cabinetry, veneer, plywood, flooring, utility lumber, dowels, tool handles, and other turned objects.
Comments: Ramin has good working properties and outstanding strength-to-weight characteristics.
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