Search for

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 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 Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Ceiba pentandra Trade Name Kapok tree Family Name Bombacaceae Synonyms Bombax pentandrum, Ceiba caribaea, Ceiba guineensis, Ceiba thonningii, Eriodendron anfractuosum, Eriodendron guineese, Eriodendron orientale Common Names Algodon de manila, Araba, Arbol de algodon, Arbre a coton, Atgodon di Manila, Bana, Banan, Banda, Bantango, Bantehi, Batte ni gan´ ken, Baumwollbaum, Baumwollenbaum, Bentang, Bentegnie, Bentegnievi, Benten, Betenbi, Bois coton, Bonga, Bongo, Bossongo, Bouday, Bouma, Bousana, Bulik, Buma, Busan, Busana, Cabellos de angel, Ceiba, Ceiba de Garzon, Ceiba de lana, Ceiba yuca, Ceibo, Ceibo jabillo, Ceibon, Corkwood, Cotonnier, Cottin, Cotton tree, Cottontree, Cutin, Cyyba, Doum, Egungun, Enia, Enyenoa, Fromager, Fromagier, Fuma, Ghe, Grand bois, Habillo, Kaddo bakkoe, Kakantrie, Kalngebard, Kankantrie, Kapok, Kapok tree, Kapokier, Koddobakkoe, Konde, Kumaka, M'fuma, Ngwe, Odouma, Ofua, Ogouma, Okha, Onyina, Pachote, Pailao, Peem, Piim, Piton, Pochote, Pochotl, Pochotle, Poxot, Seiba, Silk cotton tree, Silk-cotton, Silk-cotton-tree, Sumahuma da Varzea, Sumauma commum, Sumaumeira, White cotton-tree, Xiloxochitl, Zai-fuma Regions of Distribution Africa, Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Australia, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Columbia, Congo, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Liberia, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, Puerto Rico [US], Sierra Leone, South Africa, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Zaire Common Uses Agricultural implements, Bent Parts, Blockboard, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Casks, Chairs, Chemical derivatives, Chests, Cooperages, Core Stock, Cutting surfaces, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Drawer sides, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Food containers, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Insulating boards, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Matches, Millwork, Moldings, Musical instruments, Musical instruments: percussion, Musical instruments: strings, Office furniture, Packing cases, Paneling , Particleboard, Plain veneer, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Raft floats, Rafts, Rustic furniture, Sporting Goods, Stools, Toys, Turnery, Utility furniture, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wainscotting Environmental Profile Rare Widespread Rare in parts of its natural range (population is at risk) Likely rare at the periphery of its range Data source is Nature Conservancy Apparently secure globally Abundant Distribution Overview Throughout the tropical world; from the Tropic of Cancer in Mexico southward through Central America to Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, and Ecuador. Also West Africa and Malay Peninsula. Characteristically an open-grown tree. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow White Pale brown White to cream Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale red to pink Greenish to greyish Reddish brown Color varies considerably Brown Sapwood Color Brown Yellow White Same as heartwood Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Interlocked Straight Figure Even Growth rings (figure) Other (figure) Interlocked Straight Clear growth rings (figure) Other figure Moderately interlocked Generally straight, but not always Texture Fine Coarse Medium Coarse Medium to coarse Medium to coarse Luster High Medium Dull Slightly lustrous Lustrous Natural Growth Defects Rittleheart is often present. Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Non durable The sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Perishable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) The heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Susceptible to marine borer attack Moderately resistant to marine borer attack The timber is prone to insect attack and decay, and liable to blue-stain unless converted rapidly after felling Odor No specific smell or taste Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Slight end splitting Slight collapse and honeycomb No twisting or warping No surface checking Moderate surface checking Distortion (twist/warp) is likely Timber should be dried promptly after conversion to minimize the possibility of microbial staining Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Easy Kiln dries well Dries slowly Air-dries rather well Kiln Drying Rate Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) 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 Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Product Sources The ITTO reports that the species is an important source of timber in Central America. It is exported regularly from producing countries, such as Brazil, into China and Japan. Timber production is not regular in Africa, and exports are low. Ceiba is abundant and fast growing, but it is not considered as a major timber on the international market. The wood is similar to Balsa, but it is deemed less desirable because it is not as light. It is considered too soft and too weak to be of value as a construction or cabinetmaking timber. Although Ceiba is not valued as an important source of timber in international commerce, the tree yields many secondary products. Very young unripe pods produced by the tree are eaten in Java, and seeds are crushed and used in soups in Africa. The seeds are also reported to contain 20 to 25% of an edible oil which is also used as a lubricant and for soap manufacture. In many parts of the world, Ceiba trees are reported to have sacred significance. The soft fiber surrounding the tiny seed produced by Ceiba trees, known as Kapok, is used locally to stuff mattresses and pillows, and also for insulation. The fiber is immune to fungi and insect attack and has also been used in life-jackets, life-buoys, upholstery, saddles, sleeping bags, surgical bandages, shoe linings, clothing for aviators, and other protective clothing. Kapok is about 8 times lighter than cotton and requires less in weight for stuffing than any other material. It also has low thermal conductivity, and is one of the best known acoustic insulators on a weight basis. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Blunting Effect Moderate Blunting effect on machining is slight Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Difficult Moderately easy The wood is extremely soft. It tends to tear out and leave woolly surfaces in boring operations Carving Fair to Good Results Fair carving qualities Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cutting resistance with dry wood is variable Difficult to saw The material is very soft and tends to tear out or leave fuzzy edges. Gluing Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Moderate gluing properties Glues well Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Finishes poorly Difficult to mortise Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor moulding results Difficult to mould Difficult moulding qualities Torn grain and fuzzy surfaces are common Movement in Service Small Medium Large The wood is fairly stable after seasoning, and exhibits medium movement after manufacture Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to nail Nails hold poorly Holds nails well Good nailing qualities Difficult to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planes well, to a good finish Difficult to plane Planes to a satisfactory finish Planes to a poor finish Cutting edges must be kept very sharp since worked surfaces tend to be woolly Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Heartwood is permeable Heartwood is treatable Resistance to Splitting Excellent Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Difficult to machine Variable qualities Moderate difficulty Torn grain is a common occurrence. Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Good sanding finish Difficult to sand Poor results Excellent sandind qualities Screwing Pre-boring recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to screw Screwing yields good results Poor results Poor screw holding properties Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Difficult to turn Poor results Easy to turn Turned surfaces tend to be fuzzy because the wood is very soft Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Suitable for slicing Veneers moderately easy Veneers easily Easy to cut There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Good gluing qualities Suitable for slicing Moderately easy to veneer Bolt preparation requires steaming Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Painting Good results Excellent results The wood absorbs a lot of paint due to the coarse texture and prominent vessel lines Polishing Satisfactory results Poor results