Narra Wood Uses, Properties, Advantages, and Disadvantages
What is Narra wood?
Narra wood is wood from Southeast Asia. This tree is 65-100 feet tall, with a trunk diameter of 3-5 feet.
This is wood with an ordinary look, but unique and valuable if Amboyna (called for Narra wood burl). Both come from the Pterocarpus indicus tree.
It is a very durable wood in its resistance to rot. Because of that, it seemed to use this wood to make some large wooden objects and required good resistance to insect attacks.
Narra wood has good workability with machines and hand tools.
The properties of Narra wood
This is an ordinary-looking wood if it is narra. However, Pterocarpus indicus also produces another Narra called Amboyna, the burl of narra. This wood varies in color.
You can find heartwood with a golden yellow to reddish-brown. It looks like it will be darker if it has been further processed.
Narra wood has meshwork, a medium to coarse texture, and has a good natural luster.
It is also a very durable wood against decay, resistant to termite and maybe some insects, easy to work, and has a distinctive aroma both during and after being worked.
Narra wood advantages and disadvantages
Advantages
Durable: Narra wood is a very durable wood against decay. Not only that but also wood that has good weathering characteristics.
This wood is generally also resistant to attack by powdery mildew and termites. We don’t have information on the overall resistance of Narra wood to insect attacks.
But we think it’s also durable, although it doesn’t seem very durable. Because overall its durability is good, it seems that the use of Narra wood is good for interior and exterior use.
Although we think it’s great to use it for the interior, especially if it’s an Amboyna.
Pricing: The price of Narra wood varies depending on the type of figure and amount. It’s an advantage for buyers to choose the narra they want according to the quality.
Prices for non-figured narra are in the moderately priced range. But you can get high-quality Amboyna at one of the most expensive in the world price range.
Choosing Amboyna doesn’t seem like a good idea. Apart from being very expensive, it appears that the source is also doubtful. You know that burls are prone to poaching or other illegal activities.
So it seems that use ordinary Narra wood is more recommended.
Easy to work: Narra wood is easy to work, both hand tools and machines. It seems like you won’t have too much trouble working it, even though you’re still a beginner.
But we think it takes professionals to work on Amboyna because very expensive, exotic, and rare. Narra has a weakness when worked on, which is that it has a blunt effect on the cutter, though the blunt impact is only moderate.
It also glues well, turns, and finishes well. It seems like any working method would be easy to work. So, you can work on as many different items as you want.
Appearance: Although we said earlier that Narra wood looks ordinary, it doesn’t apply, Because there is Narra wood has a beautiful appearance with a unique pattern.
It would be best if you also did not forget the Amboyna, which is burl wood Narra. It is gorgeous wood.
Amboyna seems excellent if used for some turned objects or other small items that can be used as decorations.
In contrast, Narra wood may be used in large quantities to make furniture or other items used for yourself or sold as commercial wood in the finished goods.
Disadvantages
Vulnerable: Narra wood is listed on the IUCN Red List as vulnerable. This is due to a population reduction of more than 20% in the last 3 generations.
The cause of the population reduction may be exploitation or something else. However, on the IUCN Red List, Narra is not listed in the CITES Appendix.
We don’t know exactly why. That’s why we thought we wouldn’t go into detail here about it.
The use and trade of Narra wood must be immediately limited so that the Narra population will increase because population declines can make endangered and even extinct.
Narra wood for veneer
Veneers are a common use for wood, including Narra wood. Maybe you need moderately priced wood as a veneer, and then we think this is the right choice.
Even though it looks ordinary, it will be a veneer resistant to rot, and maybe it will last a long time.
Not only ordinary Narra wood, it seems like the Narra burl can also be used as a veneer if that is possible. If that happens, it will be a very beautiful and unique burl.
It looks like it would be great to layer some ordinary furniture to make it look luxurious.
Narra wood for furniture
Furniture is also the right choice for the use of Narra wood. Narra’s very durable in resistant to rot, and it’s very great.
You can make large-sized furniture for long-term needs without fear of being damaged by rot. It seems this is also great for outdoor furniture use, which can be prone to rot.
Because if you use this wood, it seems like it won’t rot easily like other woods with low rot resistance. If you have a burl of Narra, it looks like it would make very beautiful fine furniture, even though it’s very expensive.
Narra wood for cabinetry
In addition to furniture, cabinetry is another common use of Narra wood. We think the appearance is not what should be highlighted here.
Because overall, ordinary Narra wood looks less attractive, although not all of it is so. The advantage that may be the reason here is because it’s very durable resistant to rot.
It would be good if used as cabinetry like in the kitchen because humid air can accelerate spoilage.
Use in other rooms is also a good option. It’s easy to work and would probably make for pretty good cabinetry.
Narra wood for boatbuilding
Maybe you need wood to use for boatbuilding, and it seems like Narra wood can be an option. One common use of this wood is boatbuilding, of course, for several reasons.
One of the reasons is that Narra wood is very durable against decay, resistant to termites, and perhaps resistant to insect attack.
That will make the boatbuilding more durable to use. Other qualities may also be the reason that Narra wood is commonly used for this.
We think it’s pretty good, especially for the non-figured Narra, because burl and figured are not suitable for it.
Narra wood for plywood
This wood is also commonly used as plywood, maybe because it’s easy to work and can be used for some things.
This seems pretty good for alternative or making something that doesn’t require good quality with much money.
One of the advantages of Narra is its durability, and it seems that it can be obtained even in plywood form.
We don’t think that the Nara burl is also commonly used because it doesn’t seem suitable.
You can use Narra plywood for your use or sell it at a moderate price, and it seems quite profitable.
Narra wood for turned objects
The use of Narra wood as turned objects can be an option, especially for decorative items.
We’ve looked at some of the Narra turned objects, and they’re gorgeous if the figure is adjusted and works right.
It seems like you need to make some turned objects for your use or just as decoration items to make your home more beautiful. It can be a decorative item at a moderate price.
If you want fancy embellishments at a high price, it seems like you’ll have to get a Narra wood burl and make your own. That would be hard to find.
