I recently was given some Apetong “shorts” a neighbor had left over from a new truck bed. Has anyone had any experience with this wood. It resembles a very hard mahogany but I can’t find out anything about it. I was thinking of using it for cutting boards due to the limited length, but would like to be sure it isn’t toxic.
Thanks, Mills
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Mills, apitong is a Southeast Asian timber belonging to the same family as lauan (Dipterocarpaceae.) These woods tend to contain some resins that might taint food, but they are not known for being exceptionally toxic.
Apitong wouldn't be my first choice for cutting boards, but I think I'd be more concerned about whether the wood has been treated in any way...since you mentioned that what you have are cut offs from a truck job.
Apitong is fairly abrasive and may tend to splinter. As I recall, the wood moves a fair amount also, and may trigger an allergic reaction in some people. Apitong was also used extensively for boxcar decking and wears quite well.
Don, it's reputation for being abrasive stems from the tendency of some species in this genus (Dipterocarpus) to absorb silica. The resins are a mixed bag. They probably contribute to the wood's resistance to decay, but they can also interfere with finishes and, if a person has a high sensitivity to them, they can be irritating.
I certainly wouldn't want to use this wood for making food storage containers, but as a cutting board, I doubt if toxin transfer would be a big risk...But then, the only wood I ever recommend for use in food or toy applications is maple.
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