Meranti Malaysian hardwood

Re: Meranti Malaysian hardwood

Mark Harrison -- in Sydney, Australia

>Don't bother. I can't imagine it being used for decking. It's too soft and it is definitely not suitable for external use, in my opinion. I wouldn't even use it for external painted joinery.

The windows in my house are Meranti and they have had severe problems with rot. It is still used in some states of Australia but I would definitely not use it myself.

As for furniture? It is fairly easy to work with hand tools and it is technically a hardwood. However, it is fairly soft and quite bland in appearance.

Re: Meranti Malaysian hardwood

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

>Mark is correct. Your basic pine is about as hard than this. All meranti has going for it is that it is easier to work.

Regards from Perth

Derek

"Easier to work" is a relative term

Ian in Sydney

>I'm sure Derek will forgive me for adding this...

for an Australian, Meranti is definitely easier to work than nearly all local hardwoods.

How it compares in workability to typically NA species I'm not sure.

The following is from the Australian Timber Buyers Guide

"Meranti varies from a very soft and light timber of only moderate strength to medium density wood with higher strength. Both timbers are quite easy to work and have only a small movement and should be very stable in service. [It] nails well, holds screws satisfactorily and glues without difficulty. Generally considered poor for steam bending. Can be worked to a good finish, takes most finishes well."

Like Mark I'd never use it for decking, but then we have many much better choices.