Search for  
 
 
top

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
Certified Source
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
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
Strength Properties
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing

Scientific Name
Brosimum utile

Trade Name
Sande

Family Name
Moraceae

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Amapa doce, Amapa rana, Amapadoce, Arbol de leche, Arbol de vaca, Avichuri, Barimiso, Capomo, Caucho macho, Cavo, Cedro montanes, Cocal, Cow tree, Cuqua, Mastate, Milk tree, Murere rana, Ogechi, Ojoche, Palo de leche, Palo de vaca, Palo de vaga, Sande, Vacuno

Regions of Distribution
Central America, Latin America

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guyana, Mexico, Panama, Suriname, Venezuela

Common Uses
Balusters, Bent Parts, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Construction, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Fiberboard, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Food containers, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Moldings, Office furniture, Packing cases, Particleboard, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Skis, Stairworks, Stools, Stringers, Veneer, Woodwork

Environmental Profile
Abundant/Secure
Widespread
Status unknown in many of its growth areas
Rare in parts of its natural range (population is at risk)
Likely rare at the periphery of its range
Globally secure
Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center
Data source is Nature Conservancy
Abundant


Distribution Overview
Mexico and Central America to tropical South America.Tropical, lowland, moist, non-seasonal, broadleaved, closed forest.

Heartwood Color
Brown
Red
Yellow
Purple
Black
Orange
Green/grey
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Pale brown
White to cream
Yellowish white
Yellowish brown
Red
Red tinge at the core
Light brown
Greenish white
Brown


Sapwood Color
White
Yellow
Brown
Green/Grey
Pink
Color not distinct from heartwood
White to yellow


Grain
Straight
Interlocked
Figure
Rays (figure)
Even
Silver tint (figure)

Straight
Interlocked
Rays figure
Straight to shallowly interlocked
Silver tinted figure sometimes


Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Medium
Medium coarse to coarse


Luster
Medium
High
Pronounced
Slightly lustrous
High


Natural Durability
Very durable
Durable
Resistant to termites
Susceptible to insect attack
Perishable
Non-resistant to termites
Non-resistant to powder post beetles
Resistant to marine borers
Resistant to powder post beetles
Non durable
Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack
Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Very little natural resistance
Susceptible to termite and dry-wood insect attack
Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera)


Odor
No specific smell or taste


Kiln Schedules
Drying (speed) is fast
UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3
T5 - C3 (4/4) US


Drying Defects
Splitting
Distortion
Warping can be expected
Slight twist/warp
Slight surface checking
Distortion (twist/warp) is likely

Wood with tension wood may warp during drying. The material may also distort and check

Ease of Drying
Fairly Easy
Slowly
Variable
Rapidly
Easy
Air-dries rapidly and easily, with little degrade, little care needed


Kiln Drying Rate
Very slow
Drying rate is slow
Naturally dries at a moderate speed


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is straight
Bole/stem form is cylindrical


Tree Size
Tree height is 10-20 m
Bole length is 0-10 m
Tree height is 20-30 m
Sapwood width is 0-5 cm
Tree height is 0-10 m


Product Sources
The ITTO reports that an important source of timber. The timber is exported regularly.

Certified Source
Certified Source


Comments
Abnormal Wood Tissue

General finishing qualities are rated as good

Some material may contain tension wood which tends to affect machining operations.

Blunting Effect
Blunting effect on sawing is mild


Boring
Fair to good results
Fairly difficult to very difficult


Carving
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Internal stresses and fuzzy grain from tension wood causes cutters to burn from pinching
Easy to saw


Gluing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Easy to glue
Good properties


Mortising
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Sharp cutting edges are necessary for easy mortise

Very sharp cutting edges are necessary because of fuzzy grain

Moulding
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


He moulding properties of the wood are good, but cutting edges should be kept very sharp.

Movement in Service
Excellent Stability - Small Movement
Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement


Nailing
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Pre-Boring Recommended
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Holds nails well
Good nailing properties
Easy to nail


Planing
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fair to Good Results
Requires sharp cutting edges


Resistance to Impregnation
Resistant heartwood
Resistant sapwood
Permeable sapwood
Heartwood is permeable


Response to Hand Tools
Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work
Easy to Work
Easy to machine
Excellent response


Routing & Recessing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Sanding
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Good sanding finish
Easy to sand


Screwing
Pre-boring recommended
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Holds screws well
Good screwing properties
Easy to screw


Turning
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Painting
Excellent results


Polishing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Good to excellent results
Good results


Staining
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Finish is generally good
Staining properties are good


Varnishing
Very well


Strength Properties
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft.
Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.
Bending strength (MOR) = medium
Max. crushing strength = medium
Hardness (side grain) = soft
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high
Max. crushing strength = low
Hardness (side grain) = very soft
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low
Bending strength (MOR) = very low
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Resists denting and marring
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low
Heavy
Hardness = very high
Density = high
Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high
Bending strength (MOR) = high


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength812713743psi
Density37lbs/ft3
Hardness829lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength41107338psi
Shearing Strength1268psi
Stiffness186621601000 psi
Specific Gravity0.45
Weight3627lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage3%
Tangential Shrinkage7%
Volumetric Shrinkage12%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength571966kg/cm2
Density592kg/m3
Hardness376kg
Maximum Crushing Strength288515kg/cm2
Shearing Strength89kg/cm2
Stiffness1311511000 kg/cm2
Specific Gravity0.45
Weight576432kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage3%
Tangential Shrinkage7%

References
Bendtsen, B.A., Chudnoff, M.,1981,Properties of Seven Colombian Woods,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison Research Note FPL0242

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

Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Hardwoods -Temperate and Tropical. USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

Brown, W.H.,1969,Properties and uses of Tropical hardwoods in the United Kingdom. Part 1,Nonstructural properties and uses.,Conference on Tropical hardwoods SC-5/TN-5, Syracuse University

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 2 South America,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.

Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood B. Wood Species from S. American Tropical,Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department

Hoheisel, H., Karstedt, P.,1967,Identification of Ecuadorian Wood Sp. for possibilities of Utilization on,the basis of Technological Results,Institito Forestal Latino-Americana Merida Venezuala

ITTO. New Marketable Species Technical Notes. Prepared by Centre Technique Forestier Tropical (CTFT, Division of CIRAD, 45 bis, Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, 94736 Nogent-sur-marne Cedex, France

Kukachka, B.F.,1970,Properties of Imported Tropical Woods,Forest Research Paper FPL 125

Little, E.L.,1948,A Collection of Tree Specimens from Western Ecuador,Caribbean Forester,9(3,pp215-98

Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press

Scheffer, T.C., Duncan, C.G.,1947,The Decay Resistance of certain Central American and Ecuadorian Woods,Tropical Woods,12(92, PP1-24

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

The Ecological Trading Company Limited (ETC, Newcastle upon Tyre, United Kingdom.

U.S.D.A. Forest Service,1974,Wood Handbook,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Handbook,72

USDA. 1987. Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material. Agriculture Handbook No. 72. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Madison, Wisconsin.

USDA. 1988. Dry Kiln Operator's Manual, Preliminary Copy. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

Villamil, F.G.,1971,Maderas Colombianas,Proexpo Colombia

WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.









Search the web for anything relating to wood and forest products.


























Search the web for anything relating to wood and forest products.