What Is Shorea?



What is Shorea?

About the tree
Shorea falls second only to teak as being the most important timber tree in the Indian subcontinent.

Shorea is hardwood grown in Indonesia. It has properties quite similar to teak, but it is much stronger and heavier. Teak and Shorea seem to be used to make the same furniture, but usually shorea can run a little less expensive, as it is more abundant in nature. Although, harvesting shorea is also strictly regulated. In order to be able to remove a shorea tree, it must be larger than 20" in diameter.

The strength and durability of this magnificent wood has made this the wood of choice for light construction, and more importantly, for veneers. Another important attribute about shorea is it's natural resistance to decay and insects. This is why it is used extensively for exterior finish in the boat building industry.

Did you know?

Shorea produces little nuts called illipes, which contain a fat used as a substitute for cocoa butter.

Resin found in the bark of shorea is used as an astringent, aphrodisiac and a stimulant.

Shorea is not an ideal wood for carving, as it often chips and is brittle when trying to achieve fine detail

As Outdoor Furniture
Shorea is denser that teakwood, so the cracks in it can be seen a little easier than with teak. The structure is not affected though - it is still an immensely strong wood. If the furniture is left outside during wet weather, some roughness is possible, even though it is resistant to rot. The shorea will smoothen as the furniture weathers to a sliver gray color, very similar to that of the teak. If you are going to leave your shorea outdoors permanently, it is recommended to treat the furniture with an application of teak oil. This will help prevent it from stains and spills in addition to giving it an overall richer appearance.

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