Kamper wood, which has the scientific name Cinnamomum camphora ,grow well in the tropics area in southeast asia especially in Indonesia. Camphor trees are mostly found in tropical rain forests in Kalimantan. Samarinda is a famous region for its finest grain compared to other regions in Kalimantan. In other camphor wood areas, the grain texture is not as smooth as samarinda kamper wood, but the level of hardness is much higher.
Kamper wood has an average dried weight of 500 - 800 kg/m3. The janka hardness reaches 500-600, 4.440 N and has a bending strength of 1100 - 725 kg/m3 and a pressure strength of 650 - 425 kg/m3. With a strength class level II, kamper wood has the strength to withstand the load well, in both direction, either parallel to the wood grain, or perpendicular to the wood grain.
With the level of durability class III / IV, when kamper wood placed in direct contact with moist soil can last less than 3 years, if the wood is not protected against wind and climate but protected from water, it can last less than 10 years. When the wood placed in a place which is protected from wind, weather and water (for example indoors), endurance is a lot longer. Kamper wood is not resistant to insects and fungi, rather quickly eaten by termites. If it is well treated and preserved, kamper wood will last much longer for decades.
Kamper wood is not weather resistant. It is best used indoor, as a material for making wood jamb, door, window, parquet, flooring, wall panel, ceiling panel, stair, decorative moulding, furniture, home decor, etc.
Although not as strong and as long-lasting as bangkirai wood, kamper wood has a fine and more beautiful wood grain so it is often the choice of material for making solid paneled door and louvres. Its fine grain texture makes kamper wood has long been an alternative wood material that is more affordable than teak and merbau wood. Compared to other hardwoods such as teak, merbau and bangkirai, kamper wood is less durable, so if you want kamper wood to be more durable against insects and fungi, you should provide additional preservatives.
Kamper wood basic color is light red. Kamper wood is not that heavy when compared to merbau and bangkirai wood, but the texture of the grain is smooth and beautiful, making it suitable for finishing with transparent wood stain that still shows its grain pattern. Because its basic color is not too dark, the samarinda kamper wood can be finished with additional wood stain ranging from light colors to dark colors. Kamper wood also suitable with paint finishing system.
Kamper Wood Grain
Kamper Wood Finishing Options
Kamper wood can be finished by using a water-based finishing system, or solvent-based finishing system as follows.
1. Acrylic Water-based Finishing (transparent and solid color water-based)
Water-based finishing is an environmentally friendly, odorless, non-toxic paint that is easily applied with a spray or brush evenly, also easy to repaint. Because of its excellent resistance to ultraviolet light, this finishing is suitable for use in interiors and exteriors. Besides being weather resistant, this finishing is also resistant to mold and insects. Acrylic water-based finishing has good adhesion to the surface of the wood, seeps into the wood pores and is quite elastic, so that the wood will not easily peeled off. The last / top coat of finishing can be selected with the choice of doff / matt or gloss appearance.
There are two types of color in this acrylic water-based finishing system: transparent colors and solid colors. In case of kamper wood, we recommend both using transparent wood stain( light or dark color) or solid color. Meanwhile, if you choose not to use any color / type of wood stain , then the final appearance of the kamper wood color will look like the natural color of the kamper wood, just apply the final layer: clear doff / matt or clear gloss only then.
1.1. Transparent Wood Stain (visible wood grain )
1.2. Solid Color Wood Stain (invisible wood grain)
Kamper wood can be applied using solid color wood stain as follows:
2. Melamine Solvent-based Finishing (transparent color solvent-based)
Melamine finishing is a two-component wood finishing system with low formaldehyde content so it is relatively odorless and less poignant in the eyes. This paint has a low level of yellowing tendency, and a good level of scratch resistance, has a matt or glossy look, hard and thick coating, and resistant to water and household chemicals. This finishing system still has good transparency so that it can show the authenticity of the wood grain. The last coat / top of finishing can be selected with the choice of doff / matt or gloss appearance.
Melamine finishing has very high transparency properties. Below is a choice of wood stain that can be applied to kamper wood, either light or dark colors are available. Meanwhile, if you choose not use any wood stain color then the color of the kamper wood will look like the natural color of the kamper wood, just apply the final layer : clear doff / matt or clear gloss only then.
2.1. Choice of Transparent Color Wood Stain (visible wood grain )
3. Paint Finishing (solid color solvent-based)
Paint is a nitrocellulose-based auto refinish lacquer paint that is dry, fast, has high glossy visual and is available in a variety of durable color choices. This paint finishing system also has excellent adhesion and durability to be applied to wood. Beside applied to wood, this paint is also known as a painting system on vehicles, machinery, iron and steel. The last coat of paint finishing can be applied with a matte / doff or gloss top coat finished.
Paint finishing has no transparency at all, so it will cover all the deficiencies of kamper wood visual appearance. Below are some examples of the paint finishing color selection as follows:
3.1. Solid Color Paint (invisible wood grain)
