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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 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 Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Balfourodendron riedelianum Trade Name Pau marfim Family Name Rutaceae Common Names Farinha-seca, Gramixinga, Guataia, Guatambu, Guatambu blanco, Guatambu moroti, Ibira-nete, Ibiranoti, Ivorywood, Marfim, Moroti, Pao liso, Pao marfim, Pau liso, Pau marfim, Pequia marfim, Quatamba Regions of Distribution Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay Common Uses Agricultural implements, Axles, Bent Parts, Boat building (general), Boat building, Bobbins, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Cooperages, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Marquetry, Mathematical instruments, Moldings, Musical instruments, Oars, Office furniture, Paneling , Parquet flooring, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Sporting Goods, Textile equipment, Tool handles, Turnery Environmental Profile Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare within its range Plentiful in Paraguay. Distribution Overview State of Sao Paulo, Brazil; northern and central Paraguay; and the Selva Misionera, Argentina. Heartwood Color Brown Red Purple Pink Yellow to golden-yellow to orange White to cream Sometimes with a grayish tinge and/or darker streaks Pale brown Nearly white, pale yellowish-brown, or cream to lemon The wood has a superficial likeness to Sugar maple or Yellow birch, but it is much harder and more elastic Sapwood Color White Pink Yellow Same as heartwood White to yellow No contrast between the heartwood and sapwood Grain Straight Interlocked Figure Closed Even Weak (figure) Irregular Straight Interlocked Weak figure Occasionally interlocked, but not always Irregular Texture Medium Coarse Fine Fine to very fine and uniform The size and appearance of earlywood and latewood cells are relatively uniform within each growth ring Luster Lustrous Dull Medium Natural Durability Durable Resistant to marine borers Resistant to termites Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non durable Non durable Vulnerable to insect attack Very low natural resistance to decay and attack by termites Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Perishable Perishable Moderately durable Moderately durable Not recommended for exterior applications. Odor No specific smell or taste Toxicity Dermatitic effects Respiratory effects Kiln Schedules UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 Us schedule T3-B2 has been suggested for 2.5 and 3 squares T6-C3 (4/4); T5-C2 (8/4) US Schedule E (4/4) United Kingdom Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Resin Exudation Distortion Discoloration Moderate surface checking Slight twist/warp Severe surface checking No end splitting Dries with very little or no degrade Ease of Drying Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Little degrade Rather high volumetric shrinkage Dries easily and readily Air dries slowly due to its density Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Product Sources The ITTO reports that a fairly important source of timber and is exported regularly. Its extensive growth range makes the timber available in adequate quantities for the European market, where Maobi is more popular. Supply in the U.S. market is generally limited since the wood is mainly used in small quantities for turning and carving. Price is generally high, but not prohibitive. Substitutes Viable subsitute for Maple (Acer) and Birch (Betula) due to similarities in appearance and usage It is superior to Maple for flooring because of its high wear resistance, but Pau marfim is much harder to work and is stronger than necessary for cabinet work. The wood is also reported to vary widely in density, depending upon prevailing conditions at growth sites Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Moderate to fairly sever blunting effect on cutting edges Blunting effect on machining is slight Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe Boring Fair to good results Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good carving characteristics Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Low to medium sawing resistance Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Satisfactory gluing properties Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Tearing may occur in moulding when irregular or interlocked grain is present Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Small movement in use Dimensionally stable after proper seasoning Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Difficult to nail Accepts thin nails well Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Irregular grain may cause grain tearing in planning Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is resistant Sapwood is treatable Resistant to preservative treatment Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Responds well to hand tools Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Pre-boring recommended Good screwing properties Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling Sliced into decorative veneers for paneling and cabinets Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very poor steam bending characteristics High strength Painting Accepts paint easily Polishing Fair to Good Results Satisfactory results Good results Good finishing characteristics Can be polished to a smooth finish Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Staining (Characteristic) = coloured water-soluble extract Good staining qualities Finish is generally satisfactory Varnishing Satisfactory Easy to varnish Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = high Max. crushing strength = high Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Hardness (side grain) = medium Hardness (side grain) = hard Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Bending strength (MOR) = medium Very high density Very heavy Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = very high High in density Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 13841 20104 psi Density 50 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1987 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 6700 10276 psi Shearing Strength 2960 psi Stiffness 1724 2022 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.64 0.7 Weight 49 38 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Volumetric Shrinkage 13 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 973 1413 kg/cm2 Density 801 kg/m3 Hardness 901 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 471 722 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 208 kg/cm2 Stiffness 121 142 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.64 0.7 Weight 785 608 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % References Arno, J. 1989. Balfourodendron riedelianum - Pau marfim. In A Guide to Useful Wood of the World, Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 57-58. 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 Bolza, E.,1976,Timber and Health,Div. Building Res. C.S.I.R.O. Australia Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules