Sesendok Slab and Board Specifications for Epoxy Builds
Sesendok encompasses timber from the botanical species Endospermum diadenum, Endospermum medullosum, and Endospermum peltatum, sourced from Asia-Oceania. Originating from trees with log diameters ranging from 65 to 90 cm, this timber offers solid potential for live-edge epoxy river tables, conference tables, and furniture panels. According to the CIRAD Tropix technical sheet, mature Sesendok features a uniform creamy white appearance with sapwood that is not demarcated from the heartwood. Its grain runs straight or slightly interlocked—sometimes wavy—with a coarse texture and a naturally lustrous surface. Woodworkers should watch for tension wood or brittleheart in some logs, which can impact grain behavior and machining.
Weighing in as a light-to-medium hardwood, Sesendok has a specific gravity of 0.45 at 12% moisture content, which translates to a density of about 28.1 lb/ft³. For tabletop fabrication, a 2-inch-thick slab weighs approximately 4.7 lb per sq ft, making it lightweight and easy to maneuver in the shop. On the French Monnin hardness scale—where higher numbers indicate greater hardness—Sesendok rates at 1.4. Monnin values measure surface penetration and must never be converted to Janka values. At 1.4, the wood is relatively soft, meaning tabletop surfaces benefit from durable protective film finishes or epoxy flood coats to minimize contact indentation.
Dimensional stability alongside cast epoxy is anchored by its shrinkage metrics. Sesendok exhibits a total radial shrinkage of 2.5% and a total tangential shrinkage of 4.3% from green to oven-dry, resulting in a low St/Sr ratio of 1.7. Its coefficient of volumetric shrinkage is 0.35% per 1% change in moisture content, with a fibre saturation point of 28%. In custom resin tables, a ratio close to 1 indicates a lower tendency toward cupping. Combined with moderate shrinkage values, properly acclimatized Sesendok slabs will remain stable against a cured epoxy river channel under standard indoor atmospheric conditions.
| Property | CIRAD Tropix value | What it means / US units |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical name(s) | Endospermum diadenum, Endospermum medullosum, Endospermum peltatum | |
| Colour / texture / grain | Creamy white; texture coarse; grain straight or interlocked; interlocked grain slight | |
| Specific gravity (12% MC) | 0.45 | about 28.1 lb/ft³; a 2-inch-thick slab weighs about 4.7 lb per sq ft |
| Monnin hardness (12% MC) | 1.4 | French hardness scale; higher = harder (not a Janka value) |
| Total tangential shrinkage | 4.3 % | green to oven-dry |
| Total radial shrinkage | 2.5 % | green to oven-dry |
| Ratio St/Sr | 1.7 | closer to 1 = less cupping tendency |
| Coefficient of volumetric shrinkage | 0.35 % per % MC | volume change per 1% change in moisture content |
| Fibre saturation point | 28 % | |
| Thermal conductivity | 0.16 W/(m·K) | |
| Crushing strength (12% MC) | 40 MPa | about 5,800 psi |
| Static bending strength (12% MC) | 60 MPa | about 8,700 psi |
| Modulus of elasticity (12% MC) | 11,280 MPa | about 1,636,000 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 1 – easily 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 | 60–70 °C | about 140–158 °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).
Frequently Asked Questions About Sesendok in Tabletop Builds
How does Sesendok behave during drying before an epoxy pour?
Sesendok dries at a rapid rate according to CIRAD research, presenting only a slight risk of distortion and a slight risk of checking, with no known specific risk of collapse or casehardening. However, CIRAD notes that drying requires care due to risks of blue stain fungal discoloration and risks of distortion if tension wood is present. Suggested kiln drying temperatures run between 60 and 70 °C (about 140 to 158 °F). Slabs must be seasoned thoroughly down to interior equilibrium moisture levels before casting resin to avoid moisture transfer into the epoxy interface.
What are the machining characteristics and tool requirements for Sesendok?
The wood exhibits a normal blunting effect on cutters, permitting the use of ordinary cutting tools and ordinary or alloy steel saw teeth. However, CIRAD notes that the presence of tension wood in certain boards may cause overheating and blunting of sawblades. There is also a risk of woolliness during machining operations, so woodworkers should maintain sharp tool edges when flattening, surfacing, and routing slab edges for river pours.
How does Sesendok handle assembly, fastening, and gluing?
CIRAD rates the nailing and screwing properties of Sesendok as poor, indicating that mechanical fasteners should not be counted on for high-stress connections without engineered joinery or reinforcement. In contrast, Sesendok is well-suited for adhesives, as evidenced by its primary industrial applications in glued laminated products, blockboard, and furniture components. Furthermore, its heartwood treatability is rated Class 1 (easily permeable), allowing sealers, primers, and liquid epoxy resins to penetrate the open, coarse pores effectively.
Can Sesendok epoxy tables be used in outdoor settings?
No. Sesendok is rated Durability class 5 (not durable) against wood-decay fungi and Class S (susceptible) to dry-wood borers and termites. Its natural durability places it strictly in Class 1 for interior use without dampness. While CIRAD notes it can serve as exterior shingles if treated with preservatives, raw Sesendok river tables and custom furnishings must be kept indoors away from high humidity, exterior moisture, and ground contact.
What is the CITES listing status of Sesendok?
Sesendok is not listed in the CITES Appendices under the Washington Convention 2025 guidelines. Slabs and lumber can be imported and traded without international CITES export permits, though general commercial import and timber legality requirements still apply.
What typical end uses support Sesendok’s use in furniture?
CIRAD lists a wide variety of practical applications for Sesendok, including current furniture or furniture components, interior joinery, interior panelling, glued laminated beams, moulding, turned goods, boxes and crates, matches, and veneer for the interior of plywood. These proven interior woodworking applications validate its reliability for residential river tabletops and custom wood slab designs.
Sources
Published October 31, 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
Header image: original graphic by BigEpoxy.com.
Staff note: From a structural perspective, mature Sesendok features a crushing strength of 40 MPa (about 5,800 psi) and a static bending strength of 60 MPa (about 8,700 psi) at 12% moisture content, providing reliable longitudinal support across table spans despite its relatively soft surface rating. (Source: CIRAD Tropix 7 technical sheet: Sesendok.)