The increase use of wood products for outdoor arises from warmth color and amenity properties of wood. However, wood is naturally degraded in term of color changes and finishing layer percentage after outdoor exposure. This paper presents wood color change and finishing layer durabillity after one year outdoor exposure. Five lesser known wood species from Riau were coated transparently using acrylic, enamel, polyurethane, ultran lasur ultra violet (UV), and ultran politur P-03 UV prior to outdoor exposure. Wood color differences were assessed according to CIELab system and coating film coverages were digitally analyzed by ImageJ software. The result showed that natural wood color turned into greyish pale after one year outdoor exposure. Color changes are relatively high in the first month then moderate and little changes every month there of. Finished layer wood samples were more resistant to weathering than unfinished surfaces. Finishing material of enamel (ET), lasur (LSR), and P03 (PP) experienced better coverage than acrylic and polyurethane finish. Finishing layer is gradually degraded, then re-finishing is necessary for optimal outdoor protection. Relationships between finishing coverage and color change showed medium correlation, where the greater finishing coverage, the greater the color changes.

Wood utilization for various products such as building construction, furniture and handycrafts deserves through attention to the properties such as chemical composition and durability, as those are interrelated. This paper investigates chemical composition and natural durability of 20 wood species originated from several Indonesian regions. Celluloses content was analyzed according to Norman and Jenkin methods; lignins content was tested according to SNI 14-0492-1989; and extractives content was analysed based on SNI 14-1032-1989. Testing of wood durability was conducted under the shade at Cikampek, experiment station, West Java. Durability observation was conducted in one year afterwards by assessing the percentage damage of wood samples caused by wood-destroying organisms. Results show that jaha wood (Terminalia arborea K.et.V.) exhibited the highest cellulose content (61.35%), while the lowest (43.30%) at bambang lanang wood (Michelia champaca L.var.pubinervia). Mahang putih wood (Macaranga hypoleuca Muell. Arg.) contain the highest lignin (35.80%), conversely cempaka wood (Elmerrillia papuana Dandy) contain the lowest lignin (23.67%). The highest extractive content (7.87%) was found at bawang wood (Azadirachta exelsa (Jack) M. Jacobs), while the lowest content found at kandis wood (Pentaphalangium pachycarcum A.C. Smith.) with extractive content of 1.52%. Assessment on natural durability indicated that four species were categorized as durable (class II), six species as rather durable (class III), three species as not-durable (class IV), and seven species as perishable (class V).

Rattan utilization is mainly determined by its physical and mechanical characteristics of density and tensile strength, where the higher the physical and mechanical properties, the better quality of the cane. In South East Asia region including Indonesia, two of eight genera, Calamus and Daemonorops are classified into high economic value, however the physical and mechanical characteristic of lesser known rattan species has not been studied intensively. This paper classifies 23 of lesser known rattan species into four classes based on its density and tensile strength parallel to grain. Density was measured based on gravimetric method and tensile strength parallel to grain was tested using Universal Testing Machine (UTM). Results show that in term of physical and mechanical properties, one species belongs to class I (very good), twelve species are classified into class II(good) and III (moderate). Ten rattan species are grouped into class IV (poor). Among 23 rattan species, highly recommended commercial rattan species are Calamus holttumii Furt., Calamus nematospadix Becc., and Korthalsia celebica Becc. While, Calamus sp., Korthalsia rostrata Blume and Daemonorops sabut Becc are less recommended.

The existing preservation methods are difficult to be applied to a large dimension log which is needed for making traditional wooden ship 'Jalur' in Riau Province. Novel techniques to provide the use of readily available species to replace traditional species alternative were investigated. These included infusion and a combination of injection and bandage-wrapping methods for preserving living trees of Balam (Macaranga conifera (Rchb.f. & Zoll.) Müll.Arg.) and Bintangor (Calophyllum soulattri Burm.f.). Water-based boron compounds were applied as wood preservatives. In total, 18 discs from the bottom, middle, and top of four trees and two controls were used. Trees undergoing treatment were also used to see how wood anatomical structure might affect the boron penetration. The overall aim was to identify the best method for use in Jalur manufacturing. The results showed that in infused Balam tree where the hose position for the preservative intake was deep (10-15 cm from the bark), no boron compound was observed in the outer sapwood. Combination of injection and bandage-wrapping method gave higher percentage of boron penetration at bottom and middle of Balam tree. However, infused Bintangor showed 100% boron penetration. The larger vessel diameter, the absence of tyloses, and the simple perforation plates in Bintangor wood were likely to have contributed to the higher penetration of boron. The combination of bandage-wrapping and infusion, or alternatively by infusing the living trees close to the bark, and at as low as position in the stem gives better protection when treatments are applied to living trees.

Saat ini keberadaan kayu jenis meranti merah, kulim dan mersawa sebagai bahan baku pembuat jalur di Kabupaten Kuansing Provinsi Riau semakin langka, sedangkan kebutuhan kayu sebagai bahan pembuat jalur semakin tinggi. Oleh sebab itu diperlukan pemilihan jenis kayu alternatif yang memiliki persamaan sifat kuat dan awet dengan kayu jenis meranti merah, kulim, dan mersawa agar dapat memenuhi spesifikasi pembuatan jalur. Penelitian ini bertujuan mempelajari efektivitas pengawetan kayu balam dengan teknik infus dan bandage terhadap rayap kayu kering. Balam (Macaranga conifera Muell. Agr.) dipilih sebagai kayu alternatif untuk membuat jalur karena saat ini masih banyak ditemukan namun belum banyak dipakai untuk pembuatan jalur. Hasil pengamatan di lapangan menunjukkan bahwa jalur yang disimpan di darat mendapatkan serangan rayap kayu kering, sehingga diperlukan pengawetan jalur agar tidak terserang organisme perusak kayu (OPK) khususnya rayap kayu kering. Pengawetan pohon berdiri dengan senyawa boron komplek dengan teknik infus dan bandage dipilih untuk meningkatkan kelas keawetan kayu balam. Pengujian ketahanan kayu terhadap serangan rayap kayu kering dilakukan sesuai metode SNI 7207-2014. Data diolah dengan menggunakan rancangan faktorial acak lengkap. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa pengawetan dengan teknik infus dan bandage berbeda nyata terhadap pengurangan berat dan mortalitas rayap. Pengamatan derajat serangan secara visual pada kontrol dan teknik infus yaitu 40 (tahan) yang nilainya lebih rendah dibandingkan teknik bandage 70 (sedang). Mortalitas pada teknik infus lebih tertinggi yaitu 90,67% dibandingkan kontrol 86,08% dan bandage 61,75%. Teknik pengawetan dengan teknik infus menunjukkan kandungan boron yang lebih tinggi dibandingkan dengan teknik bandage.