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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 Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Painting Planing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Guettarda combsii Trade Name Glassywood Family Name Rubiaceae Common Names Glassywood, Sastab Regions of Distribution Central America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Belize, Mexico Common Uses Carvings, Tool handles, Turnery Heartwood Color Brown White Red Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Sapwood Color Red Brown White Same as heartwood Grain Even Figure Interlocked Straight Growth rings (figure) Straight Interlocked Clear growth rings (figure) Texture Fine Fine Luster Lustrous Natural Durability Moderately durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Resistant to wood staining fungal attack Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from pinworms (ambrosia beetles) Moderately durable Kiln Schedules Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects There is usually slight degrade as a result of spring or bow Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Slight end splitting Slight cupping Ease of Drying Slowly Moderate Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is fluted Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Blunting Effect Blunting effect on sawing green wood is mild Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild Boring Moderately easy 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 Mortising Easy to mortise Moulding Easy to mould Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Easy to Very Easy Difficult to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Sanding Good sanding finish Easy to sand Turning Good results Easy to turn Steam Bending Poor Painting Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Varnishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Density 47 lbs/ft3 Weight 46 37 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Item Green Dry Metric Density 753 kg/m3 Weight 737 592 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % References Belize,1946,42 Secondary Hardwood Timbers of British Honduras,British Honduras Forest Department Bulletin,No.1