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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

Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

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
Shrinkage, Volumetric = small
Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Shrinkage, Tangential = large
Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large
Shrinkage, Radial = large
Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium
Resists denting and marring
Heavy
Hardness (side grain) = hard
Density = high
Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft.
Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high

Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large

Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength948714242psi
Crushing Strength473862psi
Density36lbs/ft3
Hardness1006lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength49397796psi
Shearing Strength1501psi
Stiffness143517721000 psi
Work to Maximum Load13inch-lbs/in3
Specific Gravity0.440.55
Weight3935lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage4%
Tangential Shrinkage7%
Volumetric Shrinkage9%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength6671001kg/cm2
Crushing Strength3360kg/cm2
Density576kg/m3
Hardness456kg
Maximum Crushing Strength347548kg/cm2
Shearing Strength105kg/cm2
Stiffness1001241000 kg/cm2
Work to Maximum Load0.91cm-kg/cm3
Specific Gravity0.440.55
Weight624560kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage4%
Tangential Shrinkage7%

References
Armstrong, F.H.,1960,The Strength Properties of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, London Bulletin,No.45

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 (USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

Brazier, J.D.,1975,Properties and uses of Brazilian woods,Journal of the Institute of Wood Science,7(2,pp50-57

Brown, W.H.,1969,Properties and uses of Tropical hardwoods in the United Kingdom. Part 1,Nonstructural properties and uses.,Conference on Tropical hardwoods SC-5/TN-5, Syracuse University

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 2 South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

Chichignoud, M., G. Deon, P. Detienne, B. Parant and P. Vantomme. 1990. Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO, Centre Technique Forestier Tropical, Division of CIRAD, 45 bis, Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-marne, CEDEX, France.

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

Clifford, N.,1952,Tropical Hardwoods for Building,Builder,110(5689, pp338-9

Clifford, N.,1953,Commercial Hardwoods - Their Characteristics Identification and,Utilization,Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons Ltd. London

Ducke, A.,1943,The Most Important Woods of the Amazon Valley,Tropical Woods,12(74,pp1-15

Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood B. Wood Species from S. American Tropical,Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department

Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO

Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1943,Foreign Woods,- 2 Notes on Freijo (Cordia goeldiana) and Quaruba,(Vochysia,spp.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Leaflet,No. 29

Forests Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1956,A Handbook of Hardwoods,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research Establishment

HMSO. 1972. Handbook of Hardwoods. 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

ITTO. 1988. Amazonian Timbers for the International Market. ITTO Technical Series 1. Compiled by D.E. Teixeira, M.A.E. Santana, and M. Rabelo de Souza, Brazilian Institute for Forestry Development, Forest Products Laboratory, Brazil.

Kline, M. 1985. Cordia goeldiana - Freijo. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 120-121.

Kribbs, D.A. 1959. Commercial Foreign Woods on the American Market. Buckhout Lab., Dept. of Botany, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania.

Kukachka, B.F.,1970,Properties of Imported Tropical Woods,Forest Research Paper FPL 125

Lavers, G.M. 1967. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Ministry of Technology, Forest Products Research, Bulletin No. 50. Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. (Air-dry values only).

Lavers, G.M.,1983,The Strength Properties of Timber (3rd ed. revised Moore G.L.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Report (formerly Bulletin No.50)

Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Company, Inc., Fresno, California.

Mainieri, C., Pereira, J.A.,1965,Madeiras do Brasil,Anuario Brasileiro de Economia Florestal,17(17,PP135-416

Mainieri, C.,1971,25 Madeiras da Amazonia de Valor Comercial, Caracterizacas macroscopia,,usos comuns e indices qualificativos,Inst. Pesq. Tec. Sao Paulo, Brazil Publ., No.798

Mainieri, C.,1978,Fichas de Caracteristicas das Madeiras Brasileiras,Inst. Pesquisas Technologicas

Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press

Pennington, T.D.,1947,Note on Cordia wood from Eastern Brazil,Tropical Woods,12(89,pp48-52

Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press

Record, S.J., Mell, C.D.,1924,Timbers of Tropical America,Yale Univ. Press

Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London

Rizzini, C.T.,1978,Arvores e Madeiras Uteis do Brasil: Manual de Dendrologia Brasileira,Editora Edgard Blucher LTDA Brazil

Sao Paulo - Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnologicas,1956,Tabelas de Resultados obtidos para Madeiras Nacionais,Inst. Pesq. Tec. Sao Paulo, Brazil Bol., No.31(2nd Ed.)

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

Timber Development Association Ltd.,1955,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Timber Development Association Ltd.

Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition

Wangaard, F.F., et al,1954,Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods 4,Tropical Woods,14(99, pp1-187

WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center - Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.

Wolcott, G.N.,1940,A List of the Woods arranged according to their resistance to the attack,of,the 'Polilla', the Dry-wood Termite of the West Indies, Cryptotermes,brevis Walker,Caribbean Forester,1(4,PP1-10

Wolcott, G.N.,1950,An Index to the Termite Resistance of Woods,Agricultural Experimental Station, University of Puerto Rico Bulletin,No.85

Woods, R.P.,1949,Timbers of South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series









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