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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 Drying Rate Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Cabralea cangerana Trade Name Cangerana Family Name Meliaceae Common Names Acayara, Cajarana, Cancharana, Cangerana, Cangerana grande, Cangerana mirim, Canharana, Canherana, Canjarana vermelha, Canxarana, Cayarana, Cedro cangerana, Cedro macho, Cedro-ra, Chanchorena, Chanchorona, Congerana, Palula, Pau de santo, Pau santo Regions of Distribution Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay Common Uses Boxes and crates, Bridge construction, Carvings, Chemical derivatives, Door, Exterior uses, Fine furniture, Furniture, General carpentry, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Joinery, Light construction, Musical instruments, Plywood, Posts, Railroad ties, Shingles Environmental Profile Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Conservation status is unknown within its natural range due to lack of information Distribution Overview Found in Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina but is most abundant in central and southeastern Brazil. Heartwood Color Red Brown Pink Purple Dark brown Cast of purple Sapwood Color Brown Red Yellow Orange Pinkish Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Straight Wavy Even Closed Straight Wavy Occasionally wavy Generally straight, but not always Texture Coarse Medium Medium Medium coarse to coarse Coarse Luster Medium High Lustrous Medium Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Moderately durable Resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Perishable Non-resistant to pinhole borers Non-resistant to marine borers Very durable Heartwood has high natural resistance to attack by decay-causing fungi and other insects Durable Odor Seasoned wood has no characteristic odor or taste Freshly cut wood is aromatic Light-Induced Color Change Darker Drying Defects Distortion Checking No twisting or warping Moderate surface checking Moderate end spitting Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Reconditioning Treatement Requires special attention Kiln Drying Rate Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Rapid Tree Size Tree height is 40-50 m Bole length is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 50-60 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Trunk diameter is 250-300 cm Trunk diameter is 300-350 cm Trunk diameter is 350-400 cm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor to Very Poor Results Fair to Good Results Easy to plane Responds well to planing and other machining operations Moderately easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor to Very Poor Results Very Good to Excellent Results Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy Difficult to veneer Suitable for peeling Suitable for slicing Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling Can sometimes be sliced into highly decorative veneers for paneling Painting Fair to Good Results Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Surface Preparation Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Varnishing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = high Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Volumetric = small Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = high Bending strength in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content) is high - comparable to Teak. Maximum crushing strength, or compression strength parallel to grain, is high. Some familiar species with high crushing strength parallel to grain include Hard maple, Teak, and White oak. The wood is high in density. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9547 13464 psi Density 43 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1658 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 5494 7721 psi Shearing Strength 2205 psi Stiffness 1420 1568 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.51 Weight 42 33 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 10 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 671 946 kg/cm2 Density 689 kg/m3 Hardness 752 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 386 542 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 155 kg/cm2 Stiffness 99 110 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.51 Weight 673 528 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % References Almeida, D.G. de, Costa, J.R. da,1956,Madeiras do Brasil. (Timbers of Brazil.,Min. Ag. Servico de Economia Rural, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,pp56 Brazier, J.D.,1975,Properties and uses of Brazilian woods,Journal of the Institute of Wood Science,7(2,pp50-57 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. Prepared for International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) by Centre Technique Forestier Tropical (CTFT, Division of CIRAD, 45bis, 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. Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. Kribbs, D.A. 1959. Commercial Foreign Woods on the American Market. Buckhout Lab., Dept. of Botany, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania. Mainieri, C., Pereira, J.A.,1965,Madeiras do Brasil,Anuario Brasileiro de Economia Florestal,17(17,PP135-416 Mainieri, C.,1970,Madeiras Brasilieras,Sao Paulo Secretaria da Agricultra, Institulo Florestral Mainieri, C.,1978,Fichas de Caracteristicas das Madeiras Brasileiras,Inst. Pesquisas Technologicas Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press Record, S.J., Mell, C.D.,1924,Timbers of Tropical America,Yale Univ. Press Sao Paulo - Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnologicas,1956,Tabelas de Resultados obtidos para Madeiras Nacionais,Inst. Pesq. Tec. Sao Paulo, Brazil Bol., No.31(2nd Ed.) 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 Timber Development Association,1948,Some New Timbers and Their Uses No. 34,Timber Development Association Limited, London [TRADA] Woods, R.P.,1949,Timbers of South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series