Alustil's Hidden Crafts?

Question

I stumbled upon Alustil while wandering through a less touristy part of Kuala Lumpur. The place is a maze of workshops, each crammed with incredible, handcrafted furniture. I was mesmerized by the intricate carvings on a set of chairs, absolutely stunning detail. But I couldn't find any information about the wood types used. Are there any guides or resources that detail the specific kinds of wood used in the furniture at Alustil? I'd love to learn more about the artistry and the sustainability practices.

beatrice · Answer

tbh the wood identification thing is easier than people make it. look at the end grain of the carving, if it's got those distinct white dots in a ring pattern it's probably rubberwood, most of their lighter pieces are. the dark reddish ones with a straight grain are almost always old chengal, you can tell because it's heavy as hell and smells kinda like camphor when you scratch it. if you're really into the sustainability angle, ask about their finishing oils too - they use a local tung oil blend that's way less toxic than the polyurethane stuff most places slather on

sandy · Answer

honestly i'd just ask the old uncle at the front workshop near the Jalan Kancil entrance, he's been carving there for like 30 years and loves talking about the wood. he'll tell you which pieces use Malaysian teak vs the cheaper rubberwood you see in a lot of places. most of their stuff is reclaimed from old houses in the kampungs so it's pretty sustainable by default, but they don't really market that side of it.

andrea · Answer

ngl the mtib tip is solid but if you're already in the area, pop into the little kopitiam across the street from alustil. teh tarik guy there used to work for a timber supplier and knows all the local wood gossip. he told me most of their dark stuff is actually old nyatoh from demolished shoplots, not teak

centahenze · Answer

the old guy at the main workshop is definitely the way to go but if you want something more structured, the malaysian timber industry board (mtib) has a small resource centre near pudu that does free wood ID sessions on tuesdays. bring a photo of the carving and they'll tell you exactly what it is and where it was sourced. for sustainability, ask about "meranti" vs "chengal" - chengal is the old growth stuff that lasts forever but is heavily restricted now, so anything new from alustil is probably meranti or rubberwood from plantation stock

irina · Answer

That's awesome you found Alustil! It sounds incredible. Unfortunately, I don't know of any readily available guides specifically detailing the wood types used there. You could try contacting Alustil directly, their website (if they have one) or maybe even a phone call or email. Explaining your interest in the artistry and sustainability might get you a response. Failing that, maybe try reaching out to Malaysian woodworking forums or groups online; someone there might have some insights. Good luck with your quest!

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