Clicking
any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back
to this top position.
Use the following links to
jump to the associated section in the main data.
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 Schedules
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Nailing
Natural Durability
Natural Growth Defects
Numerical Data
Odor
Painting
Planing
Polishing
Product Sources
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Resistance to Splitting
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Substitutes
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
| |
Common Names
Chambo caspi, Corpus, Emeri, Emery, Emory, Flor amarillo, Palo de agua, Palo de chancho, Quaruba, San Juan, White mahogany, White yemeri, Yemeri
Regions of Distribution
Central America, Latin America
Countries of Distribution
[VIEW MAP]
Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama
Common Uses
Boxes and crates, Building materials, Canoes, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Crossties, Decorative plywood, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, General carpentry, Hatracks, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Moldings, Office furniture, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Stools, Tables , Trimming, Utility furniture, Wainscotting, Wardrobes
Environmental Profile
| Status has not been officially assessed |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distribution Overview
Various species in the Vochysia genus are widely distributed in tropical America, from southern Mexico to Peru, and are most plentiful in the Guianas and Brazil. They are reported to thrive best on coastal plains and alongside waterways, and are often found in nearly pure stands on abandoned farmlands.
Heartwood Color
| Brown |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Purple |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Red |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Pink |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Pale red to pink |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Pale brown |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Reddish brown |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Golden brown with a reddish cast |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sapwood Color
| Brown |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| White to yellow |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Paler than heartwood |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Different than heartwood |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Color not distinct from heartwood |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grain
| Figure |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Interlocked |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Straight |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Even |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Stripe (figure) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Rays (figure) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Weak (figure) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Interlocked |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Straight |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Striped figure |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Weak figure |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Rays figure |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
May be suitable for the manufacture of less expensive grade furniture
Texture
| Fine |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Medium to coarse |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Moderately coarse |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Coarse |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Luster
| Medium |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Lustrous |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| High |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Golden luster |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Natural Growth Defects
Brittleheart = rare or absent
Natural Durability
| Durable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Non durable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Moderately durable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Susceptible to attack by fungi and termites |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Heartwood resistant to decay |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Odor
| No specific smell or taste |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kiln Schedules
| Drying (speed) is fast |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| T2 - D4 (4/4); T2 - D3 (8/4) US |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Schedule A (4/4) United Kingdom |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Drying Defects
| Moderate twist/warp |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Slight surface checking |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Moderate cupping |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Slight collapse and honeycomb |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| No end splitting |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| No defects are common |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| No defects are common |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Moderate spring/bow |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The wood has a high tendency to twist and cup. Some collapse may also occur in thicker stock.
Ease of Drying
| Moderate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Dries slowly |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Dries at a fairly rapid rate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quartersawn material is less prone to drying degrade
Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is straight |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Bole/stem form is not buttressed |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Bole/stem form is cylindrical |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tree Size
| Tree height is 10-20 m |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Sapwood width is 0-5 cm |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Tree height is 20-30 m |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Product Sources
The ITTO reports that the species is an important source of timber for export.
Timber produced by species in the genus are used for the same purposes as Qualea timbers, and the two genera are often referred to by the same vernacular name in some localities.
Substitutes
Spanish cedar
Comments
Durable and is easier to work, and can be used for utility plywood, drawer bottoms, and panels
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect
| Blunting effect on sawing green wood is mild |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Slight effect |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Medium effect |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Blunting effect on machining is slight |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Boring
| Moderately easy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Bores readily with ordinary machine tools |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carving
Cutting Resistance
| Easy to saw |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gluing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Easy to glue |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Moderate gluing properties |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Good properties |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mortising
| Moderately easy to mortise |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Good mortising properties |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Finishes satisfactorily |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Easy to mortise |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Moulding
| Satisfactory moulding results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Moulding ease is moderate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Good moulding properties |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Easy to mould |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nailing
| Easy to nail |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Holds nails well |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Planing
| Easy to plane |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ease of planing is moderate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Planes to a satisfactory finish |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Resistance to Impregnation
| Sapwood is permeable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Heartwood is permeable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preservative absorption and retention is more than adequate in both heartwood and sapwood
Resistance to Splitting
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to Work |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Works readily with handtools |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Variable qualities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Easy to machine |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Difficult to machine |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
| Satisfactory sanding results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fairly good sanding characteristics |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Turning
| Poor results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Turns with moderate ease |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Responds well |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steam Bending
Painting
| Responds well to painting |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Good results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Polishing
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fair to Good Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Good results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Staining
| Fair to Good Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stains well |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Staining (Characteristic) = non-staining |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Water-Based stains should be avoided since they tend to raise the grain
Varnishing
| Fair to Good Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Strength Properties
| Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Bending strength (MOR) = low |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Work to Maximum Load = very low |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Shrinkage, Radial = very small |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Shrinkage, Tangential = small |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Bending strength (MOR) = high |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| | | |
| Bending Strength | 7062 | 11140 | psi |
| Density | | 32 | lbs/ft3 |
| Hardness | | 686 | lbs |
| Impact Strength | 20 | 25 | inches |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 3085 | 5055 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | | 1009 | psi |
| Stiffness | 1054 | 1248 | 1000 psi |
| Toughness | | 133 | inch-lbs |
| Work to Maximum Load | 4 | 8 | inch-lbs/in3 |
| Specific Gravity | 0.46 | 0.52 | |
| Weight | 29 | 24 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 2 | | % |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 8 | | % |
| Volumetric Shrinkage | 13 | | % |
| | | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| | | |
| Bending Strength | 496 | 783 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | | 512 | kg/m3 |
| Hardness | | 311 | kg |
| Impact Strength | 50 | 63 | cm |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 216 | 355 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | | 70 | kg/cm2 |
| Stiffness | 74 | 87 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Toughness | | 153 | cm-kg |
| Work to Maximum Load | 0.28 | 0.56 | cm-kg/cm3 |
| Specific Gravity | 0.46 | 0.52 | |
| Weight | 464 | 384 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 2 | | % |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 8 | | % |
References
Belize,1946,42 Secondary Hardwood Timbers of British Honduras,British Honduras Forest Department Bulletin,No.1
Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods - Temperate and Tropical. USDA., Forest Service, Preliminary Copy, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.
Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 9 Central America and the Caribbean,TRADA, Red Booklet Series
Chichignoud, M., G. Deon, P. Detienne, B. Parant and P. Vantomme. 1990. Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO, Centre Technique Forestier Tropical, Division of CIRAD, 45 bis Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-Marne, CEDEX, France.
Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.
Constantine, Jr., A. J. 1959. Know Your Woods - A Complete Guide to Trees, Woods, and Veneers. Revised Edition. Revised by H.J. Hobbs. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York.
Davis, E.M.,1949,Exploratory tests in machining and related properties of 15 Tropical,American Hardwoods,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,Report,No.1744
HMSO. 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R. H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
ITTO. 1991. Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America. Association Internationale Technique des Bois Tropicaux, Centre Technique Forestier Tropical Division of CIRAD, 45 bis, Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-marne, CEDEX, France
Kukachka, B.F.,1970,Properties of Imported Tropical Woods,Forest Research Paper FPL 125
Lavers, G.M. 1966. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50. Ministry of Technology, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London.
Lavers, G.M.,1983,The Strength Properties of Timber (3rd ed. revised Moore G.L.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Report (formerly Bulletin No.50)
Longwood, F.R.,1962,Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.207
Perpetua Hardwoods. Sea Star Trading Co. - Purveyors of Fine Wood. Newport, Oregon. Personal Communication, 1993.
Record, S.J. and R.W. Hess. 1943. Timbers of the New World. Published on the Charles Lathrop Pack Foundation, Yale University Press, New Haven CT.
Stevenson, D., Stevenson, N.S.,1925,Some Secondary Timbers of British Honduras,Tropical Woods 1(4) pp 12-16
Takahashi, A.,1975,Compilation of data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part 2,Central and South America,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No.4
Woods, R.P.,1949,Timbers of South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series
|
|