Introduction to Magas Wood for Epoxy Builds
Magas is the common trade designation for timber sourced from Duabanga grandiflora and Duabanga moluccana, trees native to the Asia-Oceania region. While less common in boutique furniture studios than traditional cabinet hardwoods, log diameters and clean fiber make Magas an intriguing candidate for slab projects. According to technical data compiled in the CIRAD Tropix technical sheet, Magas presents distinct physical properties that table builders must evaluate before pairing live-edge boards with deep-pour epoxy resin.
Appearance, Figure, and Slab Potential
Magas logs typically range from 60 to 90 cm in diameter, offering solid widths for medium-to-large table panels, bookmatched dining tables, and river desk layouts. The sapwood is not demarcated from the heartwood. In terms of color, the wood presents as light yellow to light brown, often documented with a warm, uniform light brown tone across broad surfaces. The texture of Magas is coarse, while the grain runs straight or interlocked, exhibiting slight interlocked grain. Quartersawn faces can display subtle ribbon highlights due to this interlocked structure, but the general figure remains quiet and even.
Weight, Hardness, and Mechanical Strength
Magas is a lightweight to medium-density hardwood. At 12% moisture content, it has a specific gravity of 0.50, translating to a density of about 31.2 lb/ft³. For shop calculations, a 2-inch-thick slab weighs approximately 5.2 lb per sq ft, making large river tables easy to maneuver through mold prep, demolding, and leveling.
Mechanical ratings reflect its lighter density. The wood exhibits a static bending strength of 64 MPa (about 9,280 psi), a modulus of elasticity of 9,120 MPa (about 1,323,000 psi), and a crushing strength of 39 MPa (about 5,660 psi). On the Monnin hardness scale, Magas rates at 1.6. Monnin hardness is a French standardized measurement where higher numbers indicate harder timber; it is not a Janka value and should never be translated directly into Janka figures. A rating of 1.6 classifies Magas as a soft hardwood. Tabletops built from Magas will be prone to indentations if subjected to heavy impact, meaning high-traffic tops benefit from a durable surface finish.
Shrinkage, Stability, and the Epoxy River Interface
Dimensional movement dictates the structural longevity of any wood-and-epoxy assembly. The technical properties of Magas indicate:
- Total tangential shrinkage: 6.7 %
- Total radial shrinkage: 3.5 %
- Ratio (St/Sr): 1.9
- Coefficient of volumetric shrinkage: 0.44 % per % change in moisture content
- Fibre saturation point: 27 %
The tangential-to-radial shrinkage ratio of 1.9 indicates a moderate tendency to cup during moisture swings. With a volumetric shrinkage coefficient of 0.44 %, Magas will expand and contract moderately if interior humidity shifts. When locking a Magas slab into a cured epoxy river, you must ensure the lumber is stabilized at equilibrium interior moisture levels before pouring. Large dimensional shifts across the slab can exert high tension against the epoxy interface, leading to shearing along unsealed edges. Following the resin maker’s data sheet for proper sealing coats prior to the main pour is essential.
Drying Behavior and Kiln Risks
Magas dries at a rapid rate. The CIRAD Tropix technical sheet reports a slight risk of distortion and a slight risk of checking, with no known specific risk of collapse or casehardening. However, CIRAD notes that moderate risks of cracks and distortions can sometimes manifest. Suggested kiln drying programs recommend operational temperatures ranging between 55 °C and 65 °C (about 131–149 °F). Because the wood gives up moisture rapidly, slow and controlled conditioning is advised to avoid internal stresses before flattening slabs.
Machining, Assembly, and Finishing
Working Magas with hand and power tools is generally straightforward. The blunting effect on cutting edges is normal, and ordinary or alloy steel saw teeth and ordinary cutting tools perform well. However, due to its coarse grain and slight interlocked fiber, the surface is sometimes fuzzy after machining. Keeping tools sharp is critical to avoid tearout and fuzzing.
In the assembly phase, Magas shows poor performance for nailing and screwing. Table bases should not rely on direct coarse-thread screws driven into end grain or face grain; instead, builders should use threaded metal inserts or through-bolt designs to secure table bases. For surface prep, CIRAD specifically notes that filling is required to obtain a good finish, owing to the open, coarse cellular structure.
Natural Durability and Regulatory Status
Magas heartwood is classified as Durability class 5 – not durable against xylophagous fungi. Furthermore, it is classified as Class S – susceptible to both dry wood borers (with risk in all the wood) and termites. Its heartwood treatability is Class 2 – moderately permeable. Consequently, its natural durability limits it to Class 1 – inside (no dampness). Preservative treatment is required against dry wood borers and in cases of temporary humidification, while use under permanent humidification is not recommended.
Regarding trade regulations, Magas is not listed in the CITES Appendices (Washington Convention 2025).
| Property | CIRAD Tropix value | What it means / US units |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical name(s) | Duabanga grandiflora, Duabanga moluccana | |
| Colour / texture / grain | Light brown; texture coarse; grain straight or interlocked; interlocked grain slight | |
| Specific gravity (12% MC) | 0.50 | about 31.2 lb/ft³; a 2-inch-thick slab weighs about 5.2 lb per sq ft |
| Monnin hardness (12% MC) | 1.6 | French hardness scale; higher = harder (not a Janka value) |
| Total tangential shrinkage | 6.7 % | green to oven-dry |
| Total radial shrinkage | 3.5 % | green to oven-dry |
| Ratio St/Sr | 1.9 | closer to 1 = less cupping tendency |
| Coefficient of volumetric shrinkage | 0.44 % per % MC | volume change per 1% change in moisture content |
| Fibre saturation point | 27 % | |
| Thermal conductivity | 0.18 W/(m·K) | |
| Crushing strength (12% MC) | 39 MPa | about 5,660 psi |
| Static bending strength (12% MC) | 64 MPa | about 9,280 psi |
| Modulus of elasticity (12% MC) | 9,120 MPa | about 1,323,000 psi |
| Decay (fungi) resistance | Durability class 5 – not durable | |
| Termite resistance | Class S – susceptible | |
| Dry-wood borer resistance | Class S – susceptible (risk in all the wood) | |
| Heartwood treatability | Class 2 – moderately permeable | |
| Use class from natural durability | Class 1 – inside (no dampness) | |
| Drying | rate rapid; distortion: slight risk; checking: slight risk; collapse: no known specific risk; casehardening: no known specific risk | |
| Suggested kiln program temperatures | 55–65 °C | about 131–149 °F |
| Machining | blunting normal; saw teeth: ordinary or alloy steel; cutting tools: ordinary | |
| Nailing and screwing | Poor | |
| CITES status | This species is not listed in the CITES Appendices (Washington Convention 2025). |
Values from the CIRAD Tropix technical sheet (average values for mature wood, 12% moisture content where noted). US-unit conversions are calculated by BigEpoxy (1 MPa = 145.04 psi; density = specific gravity × 62.43 lb/ft³).
Is Magas a Good Epoxy Table Wood?
Magas is best considered a specialized, light-duty wood for interior epoxy tabletops. Its primary advantages are wide log diameters (60 to 90 cm), low slab weight (5.2 lb per sq ft at 2 inches), and easy cutting with standard shop tooling. Traditional end-uses include current furniture or furniture components, interior joinery, interior panelling, moulding, turned goods, and sliced veneer.
However, its low Monnin hardness (1.6), poor screw-holding capacity, susceptibility to insects and fungi, and requirement for pore filling make it less forgiving than dense cabinet woods. If selected for an epoxy river build, Magas must be thoroughly dried, kept strictly in climate-controlled indoor spaces (Class 1), sealed against moisture changes, and mechanically secured using threaded inserts rather than standard wood screws.
Sources
Published October 31, 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
Header image: original graphic by BigEpoxy.com.
Staff note: The CIRAD Tropix technical sheet notes that Magas has a thermal conductivity (λ) of 0.18 W/(m·K), reflecting its relatively porous, lightweight cellular structure. (Source: CIRAD Tropix 7 technical sheet: Magas.)