Selecting Asian and Pacific Timbers for Epoxy River Tables
Asian and Pacific timber species provide a wide spectrum of physical properties for custom epoxy river tables. Choosing the right slab requires balancing mechanical wear resistance against cross-grain dimensional movement. Wood movement creates shear stress along the epoxy-to-wood bond line whenever humidity fluctuates. CIRAD Tropix 7 technical sheets compile standardized metrics—specific gravity, Monnin hardness, tangential shrinkage percentage, and natural decay resistance—that allow builders to evaluate species before casting resin.
Shortlist for High Dimensional Stability
Tangential shrinkage percentage is a primary metric when designing river tables. Excessive tangential movement can compromise cured epoxy interfaces during seasonal moisture cycles. Species with low shrinkage place less strain on resin seams:
- Padauk amboina: Tangential shrinkage of 4.0%, specific gravity of 0.70, and Durability class 1.
- Sesendok: Tangential shrinkage of 4.3% and specific gravity of 0.45, paired with a Monnin hardness of 1.4.
- Merbau: Tangential shrinkage of 4.4%, specific gravity of 0.83, Monnin hardness of 8.8, and Durability class 1-2.
- Resak: Tangential shrinkage of 4.7%, specific gravity of 0.80, Monnin hardness of 5.6, and Durability class 2.
- Rengas: Tangential shrinkage of 5.3%, specific gravity of 0.70, and Monnin hardness of 2.5.
- Jelutong and Keledang: Both show tangential shrinkage of 5.5%, with Jelutong at specific gravity 0.45 and Keledang at 0.80.
- Sonokeling Rosewood: Tangential shrinkage of 5.8%, specific gravity of 0.89, Monnin hardness of 7.1, and Durability class 1.
Shortlist for Hardness and Surface Wear Resistance
Tabletops intended for rigorous daily use benefit from denser species with high indentation resistance. Monnin hardness measures surface resistance directly without conversion to other hardness scales:
- Keranji: The hardest species in the regional group with a Monnin hardness of 12.3, specific gravity of 1.05, and tangential shrinkage of 6.6%.
- Tamalan Rosewood: Monnin hardness of 9.3, specific gravity of 1.00, tangential shrinkage of 6.0%, and Durability class 1.
- Ceylon Satinwood: Monnin hardness of 9.2, specific gravity of 0.98, and Durability class 1.
- Merbau: Monnin hardness of 8.8 combined with minimal tangential shrinkage.
- Tasmanian oak: Monnin hardness of 7.6 and specific gravity of 0.80, though tangential shrinkage reaches 10.0%.
- Yellow balau: Monnin hardness of 7.3, specific gravity of 0.91, and Durability class 2.
- Red balau: Monnin hardness of 7.0 and specific gravity of 0.87.
- Pyinkado: Monnin hardness of 6.9, specific gravity of 0.88, and Durability class 1.
- Ebène veinée d’asie: Highest specific gravity in the dataset at 1.20, with Durability class 1 and tangential shrinkage of 7.7%.
Shortlist for Lightweight Table Builds
Large epoxy river tables can become exceptionally heavy when built with dense hardwoods. Selecting species with lower specific gravity reduces the overall deadweight of the top:
- Cryptomeria: Lowest specific gravity in the regional dataset at 0.38, with a Monnin hardness of 1.0 and tangential shrinkage of 6.9%.
- Geronggang, Jelutong, Pulai, and Sesendok: Each exhibits a specific gravity of 0.45, with Monnin hardness ratings between 1.2 and 1.6.
- Yemane: Specific gravity of 0.49, Monnin hardness of 1.9, and tangential shrinkage of 5.9%.
- Magas and Suren: Both feature a specific gravity of 0.50, with Suren providing a Monnin hardness of 3.5.
- Black wattle: Specific gravity of 0.52 and Monnin hardness of 3.1.
- Kauri: Specific gravity of 0.53, Monnin hardness of 2.5, and tangential shrinkage of 5.9%.
Shortlist for Natural Decay Resistance
CIRAD classifies heartwood decay resistance into standard durability classes, which helps determine suitability for varying environmental exposures:
- Durability Class 1: Billian, Ceylon Satinwood, Chengal, Ebène veinée d’asie, Giam, Padauk amboina, Pyinkado, Sonokeling Rosewood, and Tamalan Rosewood.
- Durability Class 1-2: Bitis and Merbau.
- Durability Class 2: Resak, Sepetir, Yellow balau, and Cryptomeria (listed as variable).
- Durability Class 5: Species lacking natural durability include Geronggang, Jelutong, Kedondong, Magas, Mango (Machang), Merpauh, Pulai, Sesendok, and Simpoh.
Tonal Selection by Species Name
Color choices can be planned around nominal varieties in the regional list. Species such as Red balau, Yellow balau, Black wattle, Ceylon Satinwood, Sonokeling Rosewood, and Ebène veinée d’asie offer distinct visual identities to coordinate with clear or tinted resin pours.
How to Use the Table to Shortlist a Slab
To shortlist an Asian or Pacific wood slab for a custom epoxy build, match your project priorities against the table metrics:
- Filter by Movement Risk: Woods with high shrinkage percentages—such as Kasai (10.0%), Keruing (10.0%), Tasmanian oak (10.0%), Yellow balau (9.5%), Giam (9.3%), and Punah (9.2%)—require thorough drying before casting and strict adherence to the resin manufacturer’s data sheet for sealing and pouring.
- Check Support Requirements: Very dense woods like Billian (specific gravity 0.93), Ceylon Satinwood (0.98), Tamalan Rosewood (1.00), Keranji (1.05), and Ebène veinée d’asie (1.20) demand heavy-duty table bases and fasteners.
- Balance Hardness with Tool Wear: High Monnin hardness values indicate durable surfaces but require sharp tooling when prepping live edges.
| Wood | Specific gravity | Monnin hardness | Tangential shrinkage % | Decay resistance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alan / Alan-Batu | 0.80 | 6.0 | 6.5 | Durability class 3 – moderately durable |
| Benguet pine | 0.71 | 2.8 | 8.9 | Durability class 4 – poorly durable |
| Billian | 0.93 | – | 7.5 | Durability class 1 – very durable |
| Bintangor | 0.74 | 5.7 | 7.7 | Durability class 3 – moderately durable |
| Bitis | 0.85 | – | 6.8 | Durability class 1-2 – very durable to durable |
| Black wattle | 0.52 | 3.1 | 7.0 | Durability class 3 to 4 – moderately to poorly durable |
| Ceylon Satinwood | 0.98 | 9.2 | 8.3 | Durability class 1 – very durable |
| Chengal | 0.91 | – | 7.4 | Durability class 1 – very durable |
| Cryptomeria | 0.38 | 1.0 | 6.9 | Durability class 2 (v) – durable ("v" = variable) |
| Durian | 0.62 | – | 7.2 | Durability class 4 à 5 – poorly to not durable |
| Geronggang | 0.45 | 1.2 | 7.7 | Durability class 5 – not durable |
| Gerutu | 0.68 | 3.4 | 8.0 | Durability class 3 – moderately durable |
| Giam | 0.89 | – | 9.3 | Durability class 1 – very durable |
| Haldu | 0.70 | 4.5 | 6.8 | Durability class 3 – moderately durable |
| Jelutong | 0.45 | 1.6 | 5.5 | Durability class 5 – not durable |
| Kasai | 0.72 | 5.4 | 10.0 | Durability class 3 – moderately durable |
| Kauri | 0.53 | 2.5 | 5.9 | Durability class 3 to 4 – moderately to poorly durable |
| Kedondong | 0.63 | 3.3 | 6.5 | Durability class 5 – not durable |
| Kelat | 0.86 | 5.6 | 8.7 | Durability class 3 – moderately durable |
| Keledang | 0.80 | – | 5.5 | Durability class 3 – moderately durable |
| Kembang semangkok | 0.67 | 3.9 | 7.9 | Durability class 3 – moderately durable |
| Keranji | 1.05 | 12.3 | 6.6 | Durability class 3 – moderately durable |
| Keruing | 0.79 | 4.6 | 10.0 | Durability class 3 – moderately durable |
| Macassar Ebony (Ebène Veinée d’Asie) | 1.20 | – | 7.7 | Durability class 1 – very durable |
| Magas | 0.50 | 1.6 | 6.7 | Durability class 5 – not durable |
| Mango (Machang) | 0.76 | 3.7 | 6.1 | Durability class 5 – not durable |
| Melunak | 0.62 | 3.1 | 8.3 | Durability class 3 – moderately durable |
| Mengkulang | 0.68 | 4.0 | 8.7 | Durability class 4 – poorly durable |
| Merawan | 0.70 | 4.0 | 6.6 | Durability class 2 to 3 – durable to moderately durable |
| Merbau | 0.83 | 8.8 | 4.4 | Durability class 1-2 – very durable to durable |
| Merkus pine | 0.73 | 3.2 | 8.0 | Durability class 4 – poorly durable |
| Merpauh | 0.75 | 5.5 | 7.2 | Durability class 5 – not durable |
| Mersawa | 0.63 | 2.6 | 8.8 | Durability class 4 – poorly durable |
| Nyatoh | 0.57 | 2.6 | 7.7 | Durability class 3 – moderately durable |
| Padauk amboina | 0.70 | – | 4.0 | Durability class 1 – very durable |
| Perupok | 0.55 | 1.7 | 5.9 | Durability class 4 – poorly durable |
| Pulai | 0.45 | 1.5 | 6.1 | Durability class 5 – not durable |
| Punah | 0.73 | 3.1 | 9.2 | Durability class 3 – moderately durable |
| Pyinkado | 0.88 | 6.9 | 6.7 | Durability class 1 – very durable |
| Pyinma | 0.70 | 4.7 | 6.8 | Durability class 3 – moderately durable |
| Red balau | 0.87 | 7.0 | 8.8 | Durability class 3 to 4 – moderately to poorly durable |
| Rengas | 0.70 | 2.5 | 5.3 | Durability class 3 – moderately durable |
| Resak | 0.80 | 5.6 | 4.7 | Durability class 2 – durable |
| Sepetir | 0.64 | 5.4 | 7.5 | Durability class 2 – durable |
| Sesendok | 0.45 | 1.4 | 4.3 | Durability class 5 – not durable |
| Simpoh | 0.71 | 4.2 | 7.6 | Durability class 5 – not durable |
| Sonokeling Rosewood | 0.89 | 7.1 | 5.8 | Durability class 1 – very durable |
| Suren | 0.50 | 3.5 | 6.3 | Durability class 3 to 4 – moderately to poorly durable |
| Tamalan Rosewood | 1.00 | 9.3 | 6.0 | Durability class 1 – very durable |
| Tasmanian oak | 0.80 | 7.6 | 10.0 | Durability class 3 – moderately durable |
| White seraya | 0.62 | 2.8 | 8.5 | Durability class 4 – poorly durable |
| Yellow balau | 0.91 | 7.3 | 9.5 | Durability class 2 – durable |
| Yemane | 0.49 | 1.9 | 5.9 | Durability class 4 – poorly durable |
Data compiled by BigEpoxy from individual CIRAD Tropix 7 technical sheets (average values for mature wood).
Sources
Published October 31, 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
Header image: original graphic by BigEpoxy.com.
Staff note: When selecting timber for builds where natural rot resistance is essential, avoid species rated Durability class 5 such as Kedondong, Merpauh, and Simpoh, as these timbers lack natural durability against decay fungi. (Source: CIRAD Tropix 7 technical sheets (index).)