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21st January 2022, 11:08 AM #1Senior Member
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Yellow flecks in Merbau - what are they?
I'm doing a few things with Merbau at the moment and the timber has tiny yellow "flecks" in it - can anyone tell me what that is? At first I thought that it was paint off a painted blade like a Dewalt but then I sawed it and kept finding the flecks even though I don't use painted blades.
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21st January 2022, 01:35 PM #2
They are "mineral salts" (Ca or Si compounds or Aluminium succinate) that are deposited in the capillaries of the wood. Various research papers mention them, and there have been some stageringly large finds of those deposits in shakes in trees. Other woods display them as well, most noteable are Northern Silky Oak (Cardwellia sublimis) and Kwilia / Merbau.
An Occurrence of Aluminium Succinate in Cardwellia sublimis F. Muell. | Nature
Deposits in heartshakes in wood - ProQuest
Mineral Deposits in Some Tropical Woody Plants on JSTOR
Inorganic Extraneous Constituents of Wood, Holzforschung - International Journal of the Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Technology of Wood | 10.1515/hfsg.1979.33.2.47 | DeepDyveMobyturns
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22nd January 2022, 01:31 PM #3GOLD MEMBER
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I have always assumed they are not mineral salts (that DO occur in tropical woods) but rather a yellow organic pigment / dye in this species. Do some tests to confirm it with Merbau shavings. The pigment dissolves in water and metho. I believe solutions of the pigment will fluoresce in sunshine or best in UV (black) light.
Also I have heard fresh merbau should not me stored or placed on concrete as it forms a dark stain due to this pigment reacting with concrete.
Euge
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22nd January 2022, 01:40 PM #4GOLD MEMBER
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Here is a technical paper for those who are interested in the pigment found in Merbau and Afzelia
Topochemical investigation on phenolic deposits in the vessels of afzelia ( Afzelia spp.) and merbau ( Intsia spp.) heartwood, Holzforschung - International Journal of the Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Technology of Wood | 10.1515/HF.2006.099 | DeepDyve
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22nd January 2022, 03:53 PM #5Senior Member
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Many thanks for the replies everyone - interesting!
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23rd January 2022, 11:01 AM #6GOLD MEMBER
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