J is for Jelutong: A lesser-known hardwood

In the vast world of timber, some woods stand boldly in the spotlight, while others fade into the background. Jelutong (Dyera costulata), a lesser-known hardwood from the heart of southeast Asia, is one such hidden gem. Sitting side-by-side with Quebec Yellow Pine and Brazilian Mahogany, Jelutong is a timber that has previously played a huge role in the now-closed engineering workshops. Keep reading to find out its native habitat, uses, sustainability and more.

Is Jelutong a Hardwood or Softwood?

Jelutong is an esteemed hardwood, originating from the captivating landscapes of south-east Asia. Not only does this mean it’s more robust and capable of withstanding substantial stresses, but it also contributes to remarkable longevity.

Jelutong’s designation as a hardwood means that it stands as a testament to nature’s intricacies, guaranteeing resilience and offering endless possibilities in the hands of skilled artisans, engineers and craft enthusiasts. However, it’s important to note that Jelutong is graded as non-durable unless treated. This means it should be reserved for internal applications where it can thrive without being subjected to the harsh elements.

What is Jelutong Used For?

Once a cornerstone in the pattern shops of engineering workshops, Jeultongs unique characteristics offer extraordinary dimensional stability, marked by minimal variations in both radial and tangential movement characteristics.

This very quality renders it an invaluable asset for various applications. From engineering marvels involving lamination work to serving as a resilient core material in sheet products like laminboard, Jelutong is an incredibly versatile timber.

Other advantages of this timber are its uniform appearance, softness, and the ability to carve the wood. This includes the ease of shaping Jelutong across the end grain and forming the negative shape which forms the cast [the drag and the cope] for patterns.

Due to it’s workability and fine texture, it’s characteristics can resemble olive wood. To learn more about olive wood, take a read of our recent blog post: What is Olive Wood? Properties and Uses.

Where Does Jelutong Wood Come From?

The origins of Jelutong trace back to the lush landscapes of southeast Asia, where it thrives amidst the latex tree family.

The tree yields a natural latex when tapped. Usually once the trees are of a “certain age” they are felled for lumber but until that time they are tapped for the latex, which is a key constituent for rubber products; such as gloves, swimming caps, rubber bands, balloons and a variety of sporting goods. In fact, early chewing gums were latex based!

Logs can be quite large, up to 1.50m/2.00m in diameter, and the wood is very easy to machine. Its density is approximately 460/480kgm3 at approximately 12% moisture content. This timber is rated as non-durable unless treated, so internal use only.

The very close grain and attractive light straw yellow/creamy white appearance of Jelutong means it may also be used for veneer. It is great for craft enthusiasts too, denser than Balsa wood, but easily worked and is especially good for picture frame mouldings.

A bit of an unsung hero, Jelutong is both beautiful and useful. Perhaps we will see a resurgence in its use and popularity over the coming years.