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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 Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Abrasion Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Carapa guianensis Trade Name Crabwood Family Name Meliaceae Synonyms Carapa latifolia, Carapa guianensis, Carapa nicaraguensis Common Names Aboridan, Andiroba, Andiroba aruba, Andiroba saruba, Andirobeira, Andirobeira branca, Andirobeira vermelha, Bastard mahogany, Bateo, Bois caille, Bois rouge carapet, British Guiana mahogany, Cabirma de gui, Cachipou, Camacari, Caobilla, Carapa, Carapote, Cedro bateo, Cedro macho, Crabwood, Crappo, Demerara mahogany, Empire andiroba, Figueroa, Iandivora, Jandirova, Karaba, Karapa-yek, Karapai, Krapa, Krappa, Masabalo, Mazabalo, Najasi, Najesi, Nandiroba, Nandirova, Para-mahogany, Saba karaba, Tangare, Tangere, West Indian crabwood Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadelope [France], Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico [US], Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela Common Uses Agricultural implements, Balusters, Beams, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Ceiling, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Construction, Core Stock, Decks, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Food containers, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Furniture , Furniture, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Moldings, Musical instruments, Paneling, Particleboard, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Shingles, Sporting Goods, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Vulnerable Abundant/Secure Unknown status is some of its growth areas May be rare in some parts of its range Generally secure within most of its natural habitat, but note exceptions. Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Data source is Nature Conservancy Abundant Species is generally secure within its natural habitat in most areas in its range, includind French Guiana, Guyana and Surinam. Occurs in very small quantities within its range in Panama and is classified as vulnerable. Status in the wild is currently unknown due to insufficient information in the Carribean Islands, Cuba, Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. Rather abundant and widespread within most of its range, although the species might be quite rare in some parts of its range Distribution Overview Occurs in the West Indies from Cuba to Trinidad and from Honduras south through Central America, the Guianas, and into Brazil, Colombia, and Peru, and the overflow delta lands of the Orinoco in Venezuela; often occurs in pure stands; a lowland species but also at high altitudes along rivers. Andiroba is widely distributed in the Neotropics and Tropical Africa. In the Neotropics it is found from Central America south through Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana, Brazil, Peru and Paraguay, as well as on several of the Caribbean Islands. In Brazil, it is found in the entire Amazon basin, preferentially in the varzeas (seasonally flooded white water terraces) and in the igapó (perennially flooded margins of black or clear water rivers and streams), frequently in association with ucuúba (Virola surinamensis) and Pará rubber (Hevea brasiliensis). It is occasionally cultivated on the terra firma (dry uplands), generally on well drained clay soils, where it grows well. Heartwood Color White Yellow Green/grey Orange Reddish brown Pale red to pink Brown Pale brown Red Greenish to greyish Dark brown Color varies considerably Color changes with age The wood is so similar to Honduras mahogany that they are often confused with each other. Sapwood Color Yellow White Pinkish Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Different than heartwood White to yellow Paler than heartwood Pale brown Not clearly differentiated from the heartwood. Greyish Sapwood is initially pinkish, but changes to pale brown or grey upon exposure. It also constitutes a greater percentage of the timber Grain Figure Straight Interlocked Distinct (figure) Variable (figure) Mottle Wavy Rippled (figure) Even Closed Rays (figure) Growth rings (figure) Stripe (figure) Other (figure) Straight Interlocked Distinct figure Variable figure Wavy Rippled figure Mottled or streaked figure sometimes Striped figure Rays figure Other figure Clear growth rings (figure) The wood exhibits an attractive stripe and parallel, irregular rays when quarter sawn Texture Fine Even or uniform Uniform Medium Coarse Medium coarse to coarse Fine Fine to medium Crabwood is similar to Honduras mahogany, but less figured and has a finer texture Luster Medium Lustrous Dull Pronounced Slightly lustrous Natural Growth Defects Gum and mineral deposits Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Susceptible to insect attack Moderately durable Sapwood non-resistant to furniture beetles Resistant to powder post beetles Moderately durable Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Durable Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the standing tree Durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Non durable Non durable Very durable Very durable Resistant to marine borers Moderately resistant to marine borer attack= Durable Vulnerable to attack by drywood termites and powder-post beetles. Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from pinworms (ambrosia beetles) Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Highly susceptible to attack by pin-hole borers Vulnerable to attack by dry-wood termites, powder-post beetles, and pin-hole borers. Weathering characteristics are comparable to those of the Mahoganies. Odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 Dry at a moderate speed T3 - C2 (4/4); T3 - C1 (8/4) US Schedule C; United Kingdom Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Splitting Resin Exudation Checking Moderate end spitting Slight twist/warp Moderate surface checking Slight surface checking Moderate twist/warp Slight end splitting No cupping, generally Slight problems with collapse and honeycomb Severe surface checking Severe end splitting Moderate collapse and honeycombing Generally free from spring and bow Expect resin/gum exudation May split during initial stage of kiln drying. May collapse/check. High risk of warping due to high tangential to radial shrinkage ratio Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Gum Exudation Rapidly Reconditioning Treatement Medium to High Shrinkage Little degrade Moderate Easy Difficult Variable results. Special attention required For best results slow dry, with a low temperature and high humidity schedule. More difficult to dry than Honduras mahogany. Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Very slow (>28 days for boards < 32 mm, to >84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 10-20 m Bole length is less than 10 m Product Sources The ITTO reports that an important source of timber. Square-edged timber is an important export material. The timber is more abundant in supplies than Honduras mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla). Although it is not as available through hardwood suppliers in the U.S. and Europe as the true mahoganies (Swietenia and Khaya), the timber is less expensive, when available. It is more apt to be found growing in pure stands, and stills occur in enough numbers to be used for construction in some areas within its natural range Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate Blunting effect on machining is moderate Blunting effect on sawing green wood is moderate Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Moderate to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Satisfactory sawing properties Low resistance Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to glue Glues well Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mortise Good mortising properties Difficult to mortise Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mould Good moulding properties Ease of moulding is satisfactory Difficult to mould Movement in Service Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement