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Blunting Effect Boring Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Achras zapota Trade Name Chicosapote Family Name Sapotaceae Synonyms Manilkara zapahilla Common Names Chicosapote, Chicozapote, Nispero, Sapodilla, Sapote, Zapotillo Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Belize, Mexico, Venezuela Common Uses Bearings & bushings, Boat building (general), Bridge construction, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Handles: general, Handles: woodworking tools, Heavy construction, Joinery, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Poles, Railroad ties, Shade rollers, Structural work, Tool handles, Turnery Heartwood Color Red Brown Yellow White Purple Orange Reddish brown Dark brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange White to cream Red Pale brown Sapwood Color Red Yellow White Pink Pinkish Paler than heartwood Well defined Grain Straight Figure Even Interlocked Growth rings (figure) Stripe (figure) Straight Striped figure Interlocked Clear growth rings (figure) Texture Fine Medium Fine to medium Fine Luster Low Slightly lustrous Natural Durability Durable Resistant to marine borers Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to powder post beetles Resistant to attack from marine borers Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from pinworms (ambrosia beetles) Moderately resistant to marine borer attack Durable Wood staining fungal attack = resistant Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Splitting Checking Distortion Collapse Internal Honeycombing Possible Severe surface checking Severe end-splitting Moderate surface checking Moderate end spitting Slight twist/warp Slight spring/bow Slight cupping Slight collapse and honeycomb Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Fairly Easy Slowly Difficult Moderate Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Bole length is 0-10 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Blunting effect on sawing green wood is moderate Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Moderately easy Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Moderate to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is moderate Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Mortising Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moderately easy to mortise Finishes well Moulding Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding ease is moderate Good finishing results Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Possible if prebored Planing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Planes well, to a good finish Moderately easy to plane Resistance to Splitting Good Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Routing yields good results Moderately easy Sanding Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good sanding finish Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good results Easy to turn Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 61 - 67 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight)= 53 - 60 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) 67-75 lbs/cu. ft Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Density 54 lbs/ft3 Weight 53 50 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Density 865 kg/m3 Weight 849 801 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % References Belize,1946,42 Secondary Hardwood Timbers of British Honduras,British Honduras Forest Department Bulletin,No.1 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 Brazier, J.D., Franklin, G.L.,1967,An Appraisal of the Wood Characteristics and Potential Uses of some,Nicaraguan Timbers,FAO for Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough