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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 Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance 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 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 Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Ficus glabrata Trade Name Amate Family Name Moraceae Common Names Amate, Cow fig, Higueron, Quam fig, Wild fig Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Belize, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela Common Uses Boxes and crates Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Heartwood Color Brown Green/grey Yellow White Red Orange Pale brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange White to cream Greenish to greyish Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Even Figure Straight Other (figure) Weak (figure) Weak figure Other figure Generally straight, but not always Texture Coarse Fine Luster Medium High Dull Natural Growth Defects Latex or other ducts Natural Durability Non-durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Perishable Susceptible to insect attack Moderately durable Odor Has an odor Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Splitting Extension of Existing Shakes Discoloration Distortion Moderate twist/warp Moderate surface checking Moderate cupping Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Variable Rapidly Thick Stock Requires Care Reconditioning Treatement Easy Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 40-50 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Blunting Effect Moderate Boring Fairly easy to very easy Easy to treat using either open tank or pressure syste Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Carefully Controlled Conditions Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Mortising Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Finishes satisfactorily Moulding Poor moulding results Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Nailing Fair to Good Results Pre-Boring Recommended Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Holds nails well Easy to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planes to a satisfactory finish Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Permeable heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistance to Splitting Good Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Poor to Very Poor Results Poor results Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Veneers moderately easy Difficult to veneer Suitable for slicing Veneers easily Suitable for peeling Steam Bending Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Painting Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Varnishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Strength Properties Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 15-22 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 6111 9589 psi Density 22 lbs/ft3 Weight 22 18 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Volumetric Shrinkage 13 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 429 674 kg/cm2 Density 352 kg/m3 Weight 352 288 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % References Belize,1946,42 Secondary Hardwood Timbers of British Honduras,British Honduras Forest Department Bulletin,No.1 Little, E.L.,1948,A Collection of Tree Specimens from Western Ecuador,Caribbean Forester,9(3,pp215-98 Record, S.J.,1927,Trees of Honduras,Tropical Woods,10, pp10-47