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Blunting Effect
Boring
Carving
Comments
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Distribution Overview
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
Environmental Profile
Family Name
Gluing
Grain
Heartwood Color
Kiln Drying Rate
Kiln Schedules
Light-Induced Color Change
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Natural Growth Defects
Numerical Data
Odor
Planing
Plantation species?
Polishing
Product Sources
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Resistance to Splitting
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Synonyms
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities
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Synonyms
Swietenia krukovii, Swietenia tessmannii, Swietenia candollei
Common Names
Acajou, Acajou Amerique, Acajou d'Amerique, Acajou du Honduras, Aguano, American mahogany, Americkaans mahonie, Amerikaans mahonie, Aquano de tabasco, Ara putange, Araputanga, Bastard lime, Bay-mahogany, Baywood, Belize mahogany, Big leafed mahogany, Big-leafed mahogany, Bigleaf mahogany, Brazilian mahogany, Broad leaved mahogany, Broad-leaved mahogany, Cabano, Caguano, Campeche, Cao, Caoba, Caoba Americana, Caoba de Atlantico, Caoba de Honduras, Caoba Hondurea, Caoba Hondurena, Caoba mahogany, Caoba roja, Caobilla, Cedro espinoso, Cedro-rana, Central American mahogany, Chacalte, Chiapas, Chiculte, Chiculti, Cobano, Costa Rica mahogany, Costa Rico mahogany, Crura, Cuban mahogany, Flor de veradillo, Gateado, Giai ngua, Granadillo, Guatemala mahogany, Honduras mahogany, Large leaf mahogany, Large leaved mahogany, Madeira, Mahogany, Mahogany Honduras, Mahoni, Mahonie, Mara, Mogno, Mogno do rio Jurupari, Orura, Palo xopilote, Palo xopliote, Palo zopilote, Peruvian mahogany, Punab, Purab, Red cedar, Red wood, Resadillo, Sisam, Tabasco mahogany, Tzopible, Tzopilote, Tzutzul, Venezuela mahogany, Zopilocuahuitl, Zopilote, Zopilozontecomacuahuitl
Plantation species?
Yes
Regions of Distribution
Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia
Countries of Distribution
[VIEW MAP]
Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji [Polynesia], Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico [US], Solomon Islands, Venezuela
Common Uses
Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: planking, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Coffins, Concealed parts (Furniture), Cooperages, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Drawing boards, Drum sticks, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles: general, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Mathematical instruments, Millwork, Model airplanes, Moldings, Musical instruments , Musical instruments, Musical instruments: piano, Office furniture, Organ pipes, Paneling , Paneling, Particleboard, Piano keys, Pianos , Plywood corestock, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Scientific instruments, Sculpture, Shipbuilding, Tables, Turnery, Veneer, Veneer: decorative
Environmental Profile
| Widespread |
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| Some long-term concern for the species |
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| Secure within many parts of its natural range, but not completely assessed |
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| Rare in parts of its natural range |
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| Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare within parts of its range |
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| Endangered within parts of its natural boundaries |
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| Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center |
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| Data source is Nature Conservancy |
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| Considered vulnerable in its natural habitat because its numbers are threatened by serious adverse factors throughout its range. However, the species likely exists today in relatively large numbers. |
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There is some long-term concern about its continued abundance in these areas and the threat to its population in other areas
While it is relatively secure in El Salvador and Honduras, the status of Honduras mahogany in Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, and Bolivia is known to be either Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare. The species is Vulnerable in Nicaragua, Rare in Colombia and Endangered within its natural boundaries in Guatemala and the following regions in Brazil: Acre, Amazonas, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Para, and Rondonia
Distribution Overview
Perhaps the most valuable timber tree in the whole of tropical Latin America, Honduras mahogany has an extensive tropical distribution, from the north of the State of Veracruz to Yucatan in Mexico, and along the north Atlantic slope of Central America to Venezuela and Brazil. It also occurs in Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia at elevations of up to 4900 feet (1500 m), and on Cape Verde Islands. It is usually found in dry forests but it also occurs in moist and gallery forests. S. macrophylla is now widely planted throughout the whole of the tropics as a forest crop and currently provides almost all mahogany on the commercial market.
Heartwood Color
| Red |
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| Brown |
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| Purple |
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| Reddish brown |
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| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange |
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| Pale brown |
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| Pale red to pink |
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| Brown |
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| Dark brown |
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| Red |
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| Dark brown |
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| Yellow |
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| White to cream |
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| Salmon pink to light pinkish brown, or reddish brown |
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| Pink |
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| Matures into deep reddish brown |
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| Exposure to sunlight may fade color |
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| Color varies considerably |
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The wide variability in color has enabled many look-alike species to be marketed as mahogany.
Sapwood Color
| Brown |
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| Red |
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| Pink |
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| White to yellow |
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| Well defined |
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| Pinkish |
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| Whitish |
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| Paler than heartwood |
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| Different than heartwood |
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Grain
| Figure |
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| Straight |
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| Interlocked |
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| Stripe (figure) |
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| Growth rings (figure) |
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| Wavy |
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| Distinct (figure) |
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| Closed |
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| Even |
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| Mottled (figure) |
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| Rippled (figure) |
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| Variable (figure) |
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| Irregular |
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| Straight |
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| Interlocked |
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| Striped figure |
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| Wavy |
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| Clear growth rings (figure) |
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| Distinct figure |
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| Variable figure |
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| Rippled figure |
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| Mottled figure |
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| Straight to roey, wavy, or curly |
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| Storied waves produce wavy horizontal bands across the surface of flat-sawn boards |
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| Irregular |
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Irregularities in the grain often produce highly attractive figures such as, fiddleback, blister, stripe or roe, and mottle.
Texture
| Fine |
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| Medium |
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| Coarse |
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| Medium |
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| Medium to coarse |
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| Fine |
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| Fine to medium |
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| Coarse and uniform |
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Luster
| Medium |
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| High |
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| Pronounced |
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| Lustrous |
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| Slightly lustrous |
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| High |
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| Golden luster |
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Natural Growth Defects
| Yellowish deposits in vessels |
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| Whitish deposits in vessels |
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| Whitish deposits in vessels |
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| Brittleheart is rare or absent. When present, it is sparse in amount |
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Natural Durability
| Resistant to marine borers |
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| Very durable |
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| Susceptible to insect attack |
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| Resistant to termites |
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| Durable |
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| Resistant to powder post beetles |
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| Perishable |
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| Non-resistant to marine borers |
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| Non-resistant to termites |
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| Non-durable |
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| Susceptible to marine borer attack |
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| Durable |
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| Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) |
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| Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles |
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| Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree |
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| Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present |
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| Very durable |
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| Moderately durable |
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| Susceptible to pinhole borers |
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| Suitable for marine applications |
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| Non durable |
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| Heartwood susceptible to marine borer attack |
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| Heartwood resistant to attack by white rot and brown rot fungi |
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| Heartwood moderately resistant to dry-wood termites |
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| Heartwood has high resistance to decay |
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| Good weathering properties |
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Mahogany has very good weathering qualities which makes a very good choice for boat building.
Odor
| No specific smell or taste |
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Light-Induced Color Change
Toxicity
| Some toxic effects |
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| Unspecified toxicity |
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| Dermatitic effects |
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Kiln Schedules
| Drying (speed) is fast |
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| UK=F US=T6D4/T3D3 Fr=6 |
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| UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 |
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| Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid |
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| Dry at a moderate speed |
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| T6 - D4 (4/4) US |
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| T3 - D3 (8/4) US |
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| Schedule F (4/4) United Kingdom |
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| Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid |
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Drying Defects
| Collapse |
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| Internal Honeycombing Possible |
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| Distortion |
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| Checking |
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| Splitting |
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| Slight surface checking |
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| Slight twist/warp |
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| Moderate twist/warp |
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| No surface checking |
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| No end splitting |
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| Moderate surface checking |
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| Slight spring/bow |
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| Slight end splitting |
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| Slight cupping |
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| No twisting or warping |
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| No resin/gum exudation |
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| No cupping, generally |
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| No collapse/honeycomb |
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| Moderate end spitting |
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| Generally free from spring and bow |
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| Distortion (twist/warp) is likely |
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Ease of Drying
| Moderately Difficult to Difficult |
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| Fairly Easy |
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| Slowly |
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| Easy |
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| Dries easily with very little degrade |
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Kiln Drying Rate
| Naturally dries slowly |
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| Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) |
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| Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) |
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Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is buttressed |
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| Bole/stem form is straight |
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| Bole/stem form is cylindrical |
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Tree Size
| Tree height is 40-50 m |
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| Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm |
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| Tree height is 30-40 m |
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| Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm |
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| Tree height is 50-60 m |
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| Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm |
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| Bark width is 10-15 mm |
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| Bark width is 15-20 mm |
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| Trunk diameter is 250-300 cm |
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Product Sources
The ITTO reports that the species is an important source of timber for export. It is exported in the form of square-edged timber, veneers, and plywood.
Honduras mahogany is readily available at moderate prices at present, but its continued availability is of some concern because of high demand. Current supplies of the standing trees are also becoming more inaccessible and scarce due to exploitation.
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Tension wood may be present
Blunting Effect
| Moderate |
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| High to severe |
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| Blunting effect on machining is slight |
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| Slight |
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| Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild |
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| Blunting effect on machining is moderate |
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Boring
| Fairly difficult to very difficult |
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| Easy |
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| Good results |
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Carving
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
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| Generally good results |
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Cutting Resistance
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw |
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| Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy |
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| Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy |
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| Easy to saw |
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