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
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Resistance to Splitting
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Strength Properties
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Cecropia peltata

Trade Name
Trumpet wood

Family Name
Cecropiaceae

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Ambahu , Boessi papaja, Bois canon, Cecropia, Cetico, Congo-pump, Guarumo, Imbauba, Pacuna, Trumpet wood, Trumpet-tree, Yagrumo, Yagrumo hembra

Regions of Distribution
Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Cuba, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico [US], Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela

Common Uses
Boxes and crates, Charcoal, Core Stock, Excelsior, Fuelwood, Joinery, Matches, Model airplanes, Paneling, Particleboard, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Toys, Veneer

Environmental Profile
Abundant/Secure
Questionable
Rare


The environmental status of this species is currently unknown because of lack of information

Distribution Overview
Throughout tropical America. Abundant in open areas and in forests, both virgin and cutover, often forming almost pure stands.

Heartwood Color
Brown
White
Red
Yellow
Orange
Pink
Green/grey
Purple
Highly variable
White to cream
Pale brown

The heartwood is whitish initially, but darkens into a pale brown or oatmeal color upon exposure

Sapwood Color
Red
Brown
Yellow
White
White to yellow
Same as heartwood
Color not distinct from heartwood


Grain
Straight
Even

Straight
Generally straight, but not always


Texture
Coarse
Medium
Coarse
Typically coarse


Luster
Low
Medium
Slightly lustrous
Lustrous


Natural Durability
Susceptible to insect attack
Non-durable
Non-resistant to powder post beetles
Perishable
Non-resistant to termites
Resistant to marine borers
Non-resistant to marine borers
Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Non durable
The sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack
The heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present
Perishable

The wood has very little natural resistance to attack by decay fungi, termites, and other wood destroying insects

Odor
No specific smell or taste


Kiln Schedules
Drying (speed) is fast


Drying Defects
Checking
Distortion
Discoloration
Collapse
Splitting
Internal Honeycombing Possible
Slight surface checking
Severe twisting/warping
Slight twist/warp
Severe spring/bow
No surface checking
No end splitting
Moderate twist/warp
Moderate cupping

Degrade from kiln-seasoning is slight

Ease of Drying
Fairly Easy
Slowly
Rapidly
Reconditioning Treatement
Little degrade
Easy
Expect moderate degrade due to knots, splits, and loosening
Air-dries rather well


Kiln Drying Rate
Naturally dries quickly
Naturally dries at a moderate speed
Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast


Tree Size
Bole length is 10-20 m
Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm
Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm
Tree height is 40-50 m
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Tree height is 60-70 m
Tree height is 50-60 m
Tree height is 30-40 m
Bole length is 20-30 m
Tree height is 20-30 m
Bole length is 30-40 m
Trunk diameter is 300-350 cm
Trunk diameter is 250-300 cm
Bark width is 25-30 mm
Tree height is 10-20 m
Tree height is greater than 70 m


Certified Source
Certified Source


Comments
Trumpet wood is similar to the North American Black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa ) in density and in mechanical properties.

Blunting Effect
Little
Moderate


Boring
Fairly difficult to very difficult
Fairly easy to very easy
Poor to very poor results
Fair to good results
Difficult


Carving
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Cutting Resistance
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw
Easy to saw
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy
Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult

Seasoned wood is easier to saw than green material

Gluing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Mortising
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Finishes poorly


Moulding
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Poor to Very Poor Results
Difficult moulding qualities

Torn grain and fuzzy surfaces are rather difficult to avoid

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
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Easy to nail
Holds nails well
Good nailing qualities


Planing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Planes well, to a good finish
Good planing properties
Easy to plane


Resistance to Impregnation
Permeable heartwood
Permeable sapwood
Difficult to treat with preservatives

Wood responds well to pressure-vacuum or open tank treatment after incising or when there is high end-grain content.

Resistance to Splitting
Excellent


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


Routing & Recessing
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Sanding
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Fair to Good Results
Poor to Very Poor Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Good sanding finish


Screwing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Poor to Very Poor Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Easy to screw
Screwing yields good results


Turning
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Poor to Very Poor Results
Turns with moderate ease
Poor results
Finish is generally satisfactory

Fuzzy surfaces are rather common in turning operations

Veneering Qualities
Suitable for peeling
Veneers easily
Suitable for slicing
Veneers moderately easy
Difficult to veneer
There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits
Moderately easy to veneer


Painting
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Polishing
Fair to Good Results
Poor to Very Poor Results
Very Good to Excellent Results


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


Varnishing
Satisfactory

The wood responds very poorly to varnishes and lacquer.

Strength Properties
Max. crushing strength = low
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Density (dry weight) = 15-22 lbs/cu. ft.
Bending strength (MOR) = very low
Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft.
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Work to Maximum Load = very low
Shrinkage, Tangential = very small
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Hardness (side grain) = very soft
Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low
Compression strength (parallel to grain) = low

Surfaces may dent or scratch easily since the wood is soft. It is of average, or medium, density

Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength39126108psi
Density22lbs/ft3
Hardness322lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength20263743psi
Shearing Strength1052psi
Stiffness94911561000 psi
Toughness61inch-lbs
Work to Maximum Load57inch-lbs/in3
Specific Gravity0.26
Weight2117lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage2%
Tangential Shrinkage6%
Volumetric Shrinkage8%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength275429kg/cm2
Density352kg/m3
Hardness146kg
Maximum Crushing Strength142263kg/cm2
Shearing Strength73kg/cm2
Stiffness66811000 kg/cm2
Toughness70cm-kg
Work to Maximum Load0.350.49cm-kg/cm3
Specific Gravity0.26
Weight336272kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage2%
Tangential Shrinkage6%

References
Bendtsen, B.A.,1964,Some strength and related properties of yagrumo hembra (Cecropia peltata,from Puerto Rico,US. Forest Service, Research Note No. FPL-053, Forest Products Laboratory,,Madison

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 and E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods: Temperate and Tropical. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.

I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting

Little, E.L., Wadsworth, F.H.,1964,Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.249

Longwood, F.R.,1961,Puerto Rican Woods - Their Machining Seasoning and Related Characteristics,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.205

Marshall, R.C.,1934,Trees of Trinidad and Tobago,Government Printer Port of Spain Trinidad

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









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

























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