An Overview of Haldu for Wood and Epoxy Builds
Haldu is an Asian-Oceanian hardwood harvested across countries including India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Technically classified under botanical names such as Adinauclea fagifolia, Haldina cordifolia, and Pertusadina eurhyncha (among other botanical synonyms), it provides a warm appearance and uniform working properties. According to research published in the CIRAD Tropix technical sheet, Haldu exhibits physical qualities that make it well suited to fine woodworking and interior surfaces, provided woodworkers manage its specific drying behaviors.
Appearance, Grain, and Figure
Haldu heartwood displays an attractive yellow tone that darkens naturally to yellow-brown as it ages. The wood possesses a naturally lustrous surface with a fine texture. The grain is straight, and interlocked grain is entirely absent, which allows boards and live-edge slabs to mill evenly without the tearout commonly seen in cross-grained tropical timbers.
One notable characteristic of Haldu logs (which typically range from 50 to 100 cm in diameter) is that the sapwood is very wide and not clearly demarcated from the heartwood. In a river table build, this creates a soft, consistent color transition from the center of the board out toward the live edge.
Density, Hardness, and Structural Strength
Haldu is a moderately dense hardwood with a specific gravity of 0.70 at 12% moisture content. In shop terms, this equals a density of about 43.7 lb/ft³, meaning a 2-inch-thick tabletop slab weighs approximately 7.3 lb per square foot. This provides substantial heft for stable dining tables and desks without becoming unmanageably heavy.
On the Monnin hardness test, Haldu rates at 4.5 at 12% moisture content. The Monnin system is a traditional French indentation scale where higher numerical values represent harder woods; this figure is specific to Monnin testing and cannot be directly translated into a Janka rating. A Monnin score of 4.5 reflects solid surface resistance against everyday tabletop dings.
Its structural mechanical ratings are equally dependable:
- Crushing strength: 55 MPa (about 7,980 psi)
- Static bending strength (MOR): 90 MPa (about 13,050 psi)
- Modulus of elasticity (MOE): 12,770 MPa (about 1,852,000 psi)
| Property | CIRAD Tropix value | What it means / US units |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical name(s) | Adinauclea fagifolia, Adina fagifolia (synonymous), Haldina cordifolia, Adina cordifolia (synonymous), Pertusadina eurhyncha, Adina rubescens (synonymous) | |
| Colour / texture / grain | Yellow; texture fine; grain straight; interlocked grain absent | |
| Specific gravity (12% MC) | 0.70 | about 43.7 lb/ft³; a 2-inch-thick slab weighs about 7.3 lb per sq ft |
| Monnin hardness (12% MC) | 4.5 | French hardness scale; higher = harder (not a Janka value) |
| Total tangential shrinkage | 6.8 % | green to oven-dry |
| Total radial shrinkage | 3.4 % | green to oven-dry |
| Ratio St/Sr | 2.0 | closer to 1 = less cupping tendency |
| Coefficient of volumetric shrinkage | 0.45 % per % MC | volume change per 1% change in moisture content |
| Thermal conductivity | 0.23 W/(m·K) | |
| Crushing strength (12% MC) | 55 MPa | about 7,980 psi |
| Static bending strength (12% MC) | 90 MPa | about 13,050 psi |
| Modulus of elasticity (12% MC) | 12,770 MPa | about 1,852,000 psi |
| Decay (fungi) resistance | Durability class 3 – moderately durable | |
| Termite resistance | Class S – susceptible | |
| Dry-wood borer resistance | Class S – susceptible (risk in all the wood) | |
| Heartwood treatability | Class 4 – not permeable | |
| Use class from natural durability | Class 2 – inside or under cover (dampness possible) | |
| Drying | rate normal; distortion: slight risk; checking: high risk; collapse: no known specific risk; casehardening: no known specific risk | |
| Suggested kiln program temperatures | 53–65 °C | about 127–149 °F |
| Machining | blunting normal; saw teeth: ordinary or alloy steel; cutting tools: ordinary | |
| Nailing and screwing | Good | |
| 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).
Shrinkage, Stability, and Epoxy River Movement
Whenever wood is permanently bonded to a rigid cured epoxy river, dimensional movement under humidity shifts is a critical concern. CIRAD data indicates Haldu has a total tangential shrinkage of 6.8% and a total radial shrinkage of 3.4% from green to oven-dry.
This results in an St/Sr ratio of 2.0, along with a coefficient of volumetric shrinkage of 0.45% per 1% change in moisture content. While a 2.0 ratio presents a moderate tendency toward cupping if moisture varies between the top and bottom of a wide plank, the moderate tangential shrinkage means properly dried Haldu will maintain a secure glue-line next to cured resin inside climate-controlled homes.
Drying Risks: Guarding Against Surface Checks
Haldu dries at a normal rate with only a slight risk of distortion and no known specific risk of collapse or casehardening. However, CIRAD identifies a high risk of checking and notes a distinct tendency to split during air seasoning. Recommended kiln schedules feature temperatures between 53 and 65 °C (about 127 to 149 °F).
For table builders, this means you should inspect raw slabs carefully for fine radial splits or end checks before casting. Any preexisting drying checks along the live edge should be thoroughly sealed or filled with epoxy prior to deep pours.
Machining, Fastening, and Finishing
Haldu behaves smoothly under standard shop tooling. Its blunting effect on cutters is rated as normal, allowing the use of ordinary or alloy steel saw teeth and ordinary cutting knives. Nailing and screwing properties are rated as good. CIRAD notes that Haldu sawdust can sometimes be irritant, making effective dust collection and shop respiratory protection advisable when sanding or milling.
While CIRAD notes that Haldu heartwood is Class 4 (not permeable) regarding preservative penetration, the species is established for glued laminated timber, furniture components, flooring, and interior joinery. When bonding wood to epoxy, always seal clean, sanded surfaces according to the resin manufacturer's technical data sheet.
Natural Durability and CITES Status
Haldu heartwood is rated as Durability Class 3 (moderately durable against xylophagous fungi) and is classified as susceptible (Class S) to termites and dry-wood borers. Its natural durability designates it for Class 2 interior uses (under cover, dampness possible), making it suitable for indoor furniture but not recommended for outdoor exposure or humid exterior settings. Haldu is not listed in the CITES Appendices (Washington Convention 2025).
Is It a Good Epoxy Table Wood?
Haldu is a dependable, attractive choice for indoor epoxy river tables and fine wood tabletops. Its fine texture, warm yellow-to-brown luster, straight grain, and absence of interlocked fibers allow for clean joinery and crisp edge profiling. Because it carries a high risk of drying checks, builders must verify that slabs are thoroughly seasoned and stabilize any internal cracks with resin before executing the primary pour.
Sources
Published October 30, 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
Header image: original graphic by BigEpoxy.com.
Staff note: Because Haldu wood is naturally resistant to one or several acids according to CIRAD Tropix data, it offers unique chemical resilience for dedicated laboratory, craft, or utility tabletops. (Source: CIRAD Tropix 7 technical sheet: Haldu.)