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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 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 References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Gossypiospermum praecox Trade Name West Indian boxwood Family Name Flacourtiaceae Common Names Agracejo, Agracejo de monte, Boxwood maracaibo, Buis d'Amerique, Castelo, Cuchillo, India boxwood, Jia, Jia de monte, Lima, Limoncillo, Manzanito de montana, Manzano, Maracaibo boxwood, Marfil, Naranjillo, Palo blanco, Pau branco, Sapatero, Vara piedra, Venezuela boxwood, Venezuelan boxwood, West Indian boxwood, West Indian maracaibo boxwood, Westindisches buchs, Zapateiro, Zapatero, Zapatero de maracaibo Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Colombia, Columbia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Venezuela Common Uses Bearings & bushings, Bobbins, Boxes and crates, Brush backs & handles, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Engraving, Figured veneer, Flooring, Furniture, Inlay work, Instrument cases, Joinery, Mathematical instruments, Millwork, Musical instruments , Musical instruments, Musical instruments: piano, Ornamental work , Piano keys, Pianos , Plain veneer, Plywood, Precision instruments, Shuttles, Spindles, Spools, Sporting Goods, Textile equipment, Tool handles, Turnery, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Woodwork Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Mexico and Central America, or Caribbean, or tropical South America. Heartwood Color Red Brown Pink Purple Yellow to golden-yellow to orange White to cream Pale brown The heartwood is not distinct from the sapwood, and varies in color from almost white to lemon-yellow. Sapwood Color Red Brown Same as heartwood White to yellow Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Straight Even Interlocked Straight Interlocked Texture Medium Fine Coarse Fine Very fine Uniform Fine to medium Luster Medium Low Pronounced Lustrous High Natural Durability Durable Resistant to termites Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Susceptible to attack by fungi and termites Sapwood is vulnerable to attack by furniture beetles Non durable Durable Odor Has an odor Has a taste No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules T3 - A1 (4/4) US Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Distortion Splitting Checking Moderate surface checking Moderate end spitting Severe surface checking Severe end splitting Expect splits Checking Blue stain is very common in stored logs. The timber is liable to split and surface check during drying. Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Little degrade Difficult Difficult to air dry Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Slow Drying rate is slow Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 40-50 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Bole length is 0-10 m The tree is described as small. Logs are usually 9 to 12 feet (3 to 4 m) in length, sometimes reaching 16 feet (4.9 m). Diameters are often 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm), occasionally reaching 18 inches (45 cm). Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Little High to severe Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Fairly easy to very easy Poor to very poor results Carving Fair to Good Results Easy to carve Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Gluing Easy to glue Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Stable Small Seasoned material has high dimensional stability, with only small movement in use Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Heartwood is resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Sanding Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to turn Very good Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Veneers easily Suitable for slicing Veneers moderately easy No drying degrade Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Polishing Fair to Good Results Satisfactory results Good results Easy Staining Fair to Good Results Finish is generally satisfactory Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Density 52 lbs/ft3 Specific Gravity 0.63 0.77 Weight 51 40 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 4 % Item Green Dry Metric Density 833 kg/m3 Specific Gravity 0.63 0.77 Weight 817 641 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % References 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, E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Hardwoods - Temperate and Tropical. USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 2 South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Constantine, Jr., A. J. 1959. Know Your Woods - A Complete Guide to Trees, Woods, and Veneers. Revised Edition. Revised by H.J. Hobbs. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. Desch, H.E.,1948,The Boxwoods,Wood,13(5,pp130-1 Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO Fors, A.J.,1965,Maderas Cubanas,Inst. Nac. Ref. Agraria La Habara France - C.T.F.T.,1973,Investigations and Tests carried out on Tropical Timber by several,Research Laboratories,CTFT HMSO. 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer, Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California. Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press 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 Timber Development Association,1948,Some New Timbers and Their Uses No. 34,Timber Development Association Limited, London [TRADA] Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition Tropical Woods,1968,Madeiras Comercias Brasileiras,Inst. Pesq. Tec. Sao Paulo Brazil Publ.,857 Villamil, F.G.,1971,Maderas Colombianas,Proexpo Colombia Woods, R.P.,1949,Timbers of South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series