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
Comments
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
Environmental Profile
Family Name
Gluing
Grain
Heartwood Color
Kiln Schedules
Light-Induced Color Change
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Painting
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Silica Content
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Cariniana pyriformis

Trade Name
Abarco

Family Name
Lecythidaceae

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Abarco, Albarco, Bacu, Caobano, Ceru, Chorao, Choro, Chupa, Coco, Colombian mahogany, Jequitiba, Jequitiba amarella, Jequitiva, Rosa, Tauary

Regions of Distribution
Latin America

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela

Common Uses
Boat building (general), Cabinetmaking, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery, Ladders, Light construction, Piling, Plywood, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer

Environmental Profile
Abundant/Secure
Rare


Heartwood Color
Brown
Purple
Red
Reddish brown
Purple
Red
Brown


Sapwood Color
White
Paler than heartwood


Grain
Straight
Interlocked
Even
Figure
Distinct (figure)

Straight
Interlocked
Distinct figure


Texture
Coarse
Medium
Fine


Luster
Medium
Slightly lustrous
Lustrous


Natural Durability
Perishable
Non-durable
Susceptible to insect attack
Non-resistant to powder post beetles
Non-resistant to pinhole borers
Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Durable
Very durable
Resistant to marine borers
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Moderately durable


Silica Content
Slight silica content


Light-Induced Color Change
Lighter


Kiln Schedules
UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5
Drying (speed) is fast


Drying Defects
Distortion
Checking
Discoloration
Splitting
Slight twist/warp
Slight surface checking


Ease of Drying
Medium to High Shrinkage
Thick Stock Requires Care
Fairly Easy
Rapidly
Requires special attention


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


Tree Size
Tree height is 20-30 m


Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect
High to severe
Blunting effect on sawing green wood is moderate
Blunting effect on sawing green wood is mild
Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate
Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild


Boring
Fairly easy to very easy
Very good to excellent results


Carving
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult


Gluing
Easy to glue


Mortising
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Moulding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


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


Nailing
Pre-Boring Recommended
Fair to Good Results
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to nail


Planing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results


Resistance to Impregnation
Sapwood is permeable
Heartwood is resistant
Heartwood is extremely resistant


Response to Hand Tools
Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work
Easy to machine
Variable qualities


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


Sanding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Screwing
Pre-boring recommended
Fair to Good Results
Easy to screw


Turning
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Veneering Qualities
Easy to cut
Suitable for slicing
Suitable for peeling


Steam Bending
Fair to Good Results


Painting
Satisfactory results


Polishing
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Good results


Staining
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Varnishing
Fair to Good Results


Strength Properties
Bending strength (MOR) = medium
Max. crushing strength = high
Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium
Max. crushing strength = medium
Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft.
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Bending strength (MOR) = very high
Bending strength (MOR) = high
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Shrinkage, Tangential = large
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Shrinkage, Radial = large
Hardness (side grain) = soft
Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength1283519253psi
Density40lbs/ft3
Hardness995lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength59058762psi
Shearing Strength2205psi
Stiffness148117101000 psi
Weight3931lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage4%
Tangential Shrinkage8%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength9021353kg/cm2
Density641kg/m3
Hardness451kg
Maximum Crushing Strength415616kg/cm2
Shearing Strength155kg/cm2
Stiffness1041201000 kg/cm2
Weight624496kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage4%

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

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

Gerry, E.,1952,Foreign woods information leaflet - Albarco Bacu Cariniana pyriformis,Miers Family Lecythidaceae,Forest Products Laboratory US Department of Agriculture

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