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Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Movement in Service Natural Durability Numerical Data References Regions of Distribution Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Inga alba Trade Name Bois sucre Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Inga fraxinea Common Names Bois sucre, Bow pagode, Guamo colorado, Kawariye, Kurang, Kwari, Manniballi, Maporokon, Prokonie, Yokar Regions of Distribution Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela Common Uses Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Concrete formwork, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture, Light construction, Plywood, Veneer Heartwood Color Brown Red Purple Pink Reddish brown Pale red to pink Pale brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Greenish to greyish White to cream Sapwood Color White to yellow Same as heartwood Different than heartwood Grain Straight Figure Other (figure) Closed Even Wavy Interlocked Straight Other figure Wavy Interlocked Texture Coarse Medium Medium to coarse Luster Lustrous Dull Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Non-durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Perishable Non durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Susceptible to marine borer attack Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Internal Honeycombing Possible Collapse Distortion Moderate twist/warp Moderate cupping Tree Size Bole length is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Movement in Service Stable Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy Suitable for peeling No drying degrade Good gluing qualities Bolt preparation requires steaming There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Suitable for peeling Moderately easy to veneer Easy to cut Drying degrade is moderate to severe, with collapse, buckles, and splits Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Max. crushing strength = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 8244 12907 psi Density 35 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1658 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 4662 7284 psi Shearing Strength 1989 psi Stiffness 1665 1923 1000 psi Weight 34 27 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 579 907 kg/cm2 Density 560 kg/m3 Hardness 752 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 327 512 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 139 kg/cm2 Stiffness 117 135 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 544 432 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % References Berni, C.A., Bolza, E., Christensen, F.J.,1979,South American Timbers - The Characteristics, Properties and Uses of 190,Species,C.S.I.R.O Div. Building Research Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 2 South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood B. Wood Species from S. American Tropical,Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department Fanshawe, D.B.,1954,Forest Products of British Guiana Part 1 Principal Timbers,Forest Department British Guiana Forestry Bulletin (New Series 2nd,Edition,No.1 France - C.T.F.T./C.T.B.,1982,Guide pour le Choix des Essences Deroulables-pour la fabrication du,contreplaque,C.T.F.T./C.T.B. France Highley, T.L., Scheffer, T.C.,1970,Natural Decay Resistance of 30 Peruvian Woods,U.S.A. Agriculture Department, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory,,Madison Research Paper,No.143 Longwood, F.R.,1962,Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.207 Polak, A.M.,1992,Major Timber Trees of Guyana A Field Guide,The Tropenbos Foundation Wageningen, The Netherlands Semana, J.A., et al,1978,Hardwood from Anabiong,Forpride Digest,7(4, pp63-9 Slooten, H.J. van der,1970,Evaluation Study of eighteen Wood Species from Guyana for Veneer and,Plywood Manufacture,Forest Industries Development Survey FAO Report SF/GUY9 Tech. Report,No.13,U.N.D.P. 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