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 Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Cordia goeldiana Trade Name Freijo Family Name Boraginaceae Common Names Amazon teak, Brateco, Brazilian teak, Brazilian walnut, Cordia, Cordia wood, Frei jorge, Frei jorje, Frei-jorge, Freijjo vermelho, Freijo, Jennie wood, Jenny wood, Jenuie wood, South American walnut, Tahuampa Regions of Distribution Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brazil Common Uses Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Casing, Chairs, Chests, Cooperages, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Factory flooring, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, General carpentry, Heavy construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Light construction, Living-room suites, Marine construction, Millwork, Moldings, Naval architecture, Office furniture, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Rustic furniture, Structural plywood, Sub-flooring, Tables , Trimming, Turnery, Utility furniture, Utility plywood, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wainscotting, Wardrobes Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Tropical South America. Brasil (AC/AM/PA/RO/RR), as well as Guyana, and French Guyana. Heartwood Color Brown Red Yellow Purple Orange Brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Greenish to greyish Pale brown Dark brown Golden brown Contains dark streaks Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Same as heartwood Paler than heartwood Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Straight Figure Stripe (figure) Distinct (figure) Interlocked Even Other (figure) Rays (figure) Straight Striped figure Distinct figure Interlocked Other figure Rays figure Generally straight, but not always Texture Fine Medium Coarse Medium to coarse Fine to medium Medium coarse and uniform Luster Lustrous Pronounced Dull Natural Durability Durable Very durable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to marine borers Resistant to termites Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to marine borers Durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Moderately durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Very durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Moderately resistant to marine borer attack Vulnerable to attack by powder-post beetles Resistant to white-rot and brown-rot fungi Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from marine borers Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Non durable Good weathering properties Odor Spicy scent No distinctive taste Kiln Schedules UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 Drying (speed) is fast Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Checking Slight end splitting Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Slight spring/bow No twisting or warping No surface checking No end splitting No cupping, generally Moderate twist/warp Moderate end spitting Distortion (twist/warp) is likely Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Slowly Easy Kiln dries well Air-dries rather well Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly 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 Tree Size Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 40-50 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm The size of the trees are reported to vary according to their location and corresponding prevailing conditions Product Sources The International Tropical Timbers Organization (ITTO) reports that timber production and export are regular. The timber is imported from Brazil into Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, England, and Bahrain. Supplies of Freijo are adequate but only small volumes reach the United States and European market. It is priced higher for a timber of its quality, because of its limited availability. Freijo is very similar in strength properties to Teak, and is occasionally used as a substitute for Teak in building ships. Substitutes Substitute for Teak in building ships Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Generally strong and durable Blunting Effect Little High to severe Slight Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild Medium effect Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Fairly easy to very easy Requires a strong hold to prevent end-grain breaking away Moderately easy Carving Sharp cutting edges required Generally good results Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Easy to saw Gluing Easy to glue Requires a filler Glues well Mortising Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Support material during mortising to prevent break out. Finishes well Moulding Good finishing results Requires very sharp cutting edges Movement in Service Stable Small Medium Nailing Thin-guage nails recommended Tends to split during nailing Satisfactory nailing properties Pre-boring recommended Holds nails well Easy to nail Planing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Planes well, to a good finish Sharp cutting edges recommended Ease of planing is moderate Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Sharp cutting edges prevent tearing Good response Sanding Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Screwing Relatively easy to screw Pre-boring recommended Good screw holding properties Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Difficult to turn Very poor turning properties Steam Bending Moderate Good Generally poor Polishing Satisfactory results Requires a filler Good results Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Requires filler Finish is generally good Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = soft Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = high Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Bending strength (MOR) = high