building material sisau

Sisau is a large crooked deciduous tree. With its tolerance of light frosts and long dry seasons, this species deserves greater consideration for tree farming, aggro forestry and deciduous reforestation. after teak it is the most imp cultivated timber tree of bihar which is the largest production of shisham timber in India. In Bihar the tree is planted on roadsides along cannels and as a shade tree for tea plantation. It is most commonly planted in southern Indian cities like Bangalore as a street tree  this tree is mostly cultivated in Terai region of Nepal . 

                       The wood of sisau is known as sheesham and shisham and is an important commercial timber which is sold internationally.

Manufacture of timber

• shisham is usually dried up before used in furniture manufacturing, the process known as seasoning 
• locally sheesham is left in wide open areas to dried up under the sun for six months
• commercially it is dried up in closed chamber with air circulation for about 7-15 days depending on weather condition
• the ideal moisture level is supposed to be 5-6%for thinner bases and up to 11% for thicker ones depending on use
• anything lower than this can be harmful for shisham made product as it may cause sudden cracking

Uses

• sheesham is among the finest cabinet and veneer( thin slice of wood) timber.
• it is the wood from which musical instrument , agricultural tools , flooring, plywood, and as a bentwood 
• it is a very useful in furniture making that can be given any shapes.

Hearthwood

• it is golden to dark brown 0.7-0.8
• it is durable
• it is very resistant to fungi

sapwood

• it is white to pale brownish white

• it is readily attacked by dry wood termites and borers. 

       Sisau wood is also used as fuel wood and for shades and shelter. in Nepal it is mostly cultivated and manufactured in Terai and used throughout the country. it costs 4000-6000 per sq ft which may vary according to its availability.