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Blunting Effect
Boring
Carving
Certified Source
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 Schedules
Light-Induced Color Change
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Odor
Painting
Planing
Polishing
Product Sources
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Silica Content
Staining
Strength Properties
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Goupia glabra

Trade Name
Kopie

Family Name
Celastraceae

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Cabacalli, Caballi, Capricornia, Chaquiro, Congrio blanco, Copi, Copie, Couepi, Coupi, Cupiuba, Cupiuva, Goupi, Goupi glabra, Goupie, Goupil, Kabiuk, Kaboekalli, Kabukaii, Kabukalli, Kapie, Keopi, Koepie, Kopi, Kopie, Kopiye, Kupiye, Paraguero, Piaunde, Pilon, Saino, Sapino, Stinkwood, Tento, Waramai, Zahino

Regions of Distribution
Central America, Latin America

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Bent Parts, Boat building (general), Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Chairs, Charcoal, Chests, Construction, Decks, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Drawer sides, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Fine furniture, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Mine timbers, Office furniture, Paneling, Piling, Plywood, Plywood: veneer (marine), Poles, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Roofing, Rustic furniture, Stools, Sub-flooring, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wardrobes

Environmental Profile
Vulnerable
Extinct
Abundant/Secure
Endangered
Status has not been officially assessed


Distribution Overview
Uplands of the lower Amazon, the Guianas, and the Serrania de San Lucas, Carare-Opon, Rio Cauca Valley, and other regions of Colombia. Also in Surinam and Brazil.

Heartwood Color
Brown
Red
Pink
Reddish brown
Red
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Purple
Pale brown
Orange brown
Darkens upon exposure
Black

The heartwood is described as light reddish-brown or brown beige to orange brown and darkens slightly upon exposure.

Sapwood Color
Brown
White to yellow
Pinkish
Different than heartwood
Well defined
Paler than heartwood
Color not distinct from heartwood
Brownish


Grain
Figure
Straight
Other (figure)
Interlocked
Even
Growth rings (figure)

Straight
Other figure
Interlocked
Clear growth rings (figure)


Texture
Medium
Coarse
Medium coarse to coarse
Medium
Fine to medium


Luster
Low
Lustrous
Slightly lustrous
Dull


Natural Durability
Durable
Resistant to termites
Durable
Susceptible to marine borer attack
Moderately durable
Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Very durable
Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Non durable
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Susceptible to attack by marine borers
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Resistant to attack from marine borers
Resistant to attack by termites
Resistant to attack by dry wood insects
Resistant to attack by brown-rot and white-rot fungi

Little natural resistance

Odor
Has an odor
Has a taste
No specific smell or taste when dry
May have a strong unpleasent smell when green

The wood has a fetid odor when green. The dry wood has no discernible odor and is tasteless

Silica Content
Siliceous


Light-Induced Color Change
Darker


Kiln Schedules
T7 - B3 (4/4) US/T7 - B3 (4/4) US


Drying Defects
Distortion
Slight twist/warp
Slight surface checking
Warping can be expected
Slight spring/bow
Slight end splitting
No cupping, generally
Moderate twist/warp
Moderate surface checking
Distortion (twist/warp) is likely
Checking
Case hardening


Ease of Drying
Slowly
Fairly Easy
Little degrade
Requires slow to moderate drying schedule.
Requires care
Difficult to air dry


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is buttressed
Bole/stem form is cylindrical


Tree Size
Tree height is 10-20 m
Tree height is 30-40 m


Product Sources
The ITTO reports that the species is an important source of timber. The timber is exported at a low rate.

Certified Source
Certified Source


Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

The timber is highly favored as an all purpose wood in the Guianas. It is reported to compare favorably with oak, except in shock resistance, splitting, compression, and cleavage.

Blunting Effect
Blunting effect on machining is moderate
Cuting edges are dulled moderately


Boring
Fairly difficult to very difficult
Poor to very poor results
Good (75+ pieces out of 100 will yield good to excellent results)
Easy


Carving
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to carve


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult


Gluing
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Easy to glue
Fair gluing properties


Mortising
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Moulding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Difficult to mould


Movement in Service
Excellent Stability - Small Movement
Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement
Large


Nailing
Easy to nail
Poor nailing properties
Holds nails well


Planing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Difficult to plane
Planes to a poor finish
Special attention suggested for best results
Easy to plane

Material containing interlocked grain is generally difficult to plane. A cutting angle of 15 degrees is recommended.

Resistance to Impregnation
Resistant sapwood
Resistant heartwood
Heartwood is moderately resistant
Sapwood is moderately resistant
Sapwood is moderately resistant
Heartwood is very resistant
Heartwood is extremely resistant


Response to Hand Tools
Responds Readily
Easy to Work
Easy to machine
Moderate working qualities
Difficult to machine
Variable qualities


Routing & Recessing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Routing is easy


Sanding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Interlocked grain stock is difficult to sand

Screwing
Difficult to screw


Turning
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Good results
Easy to turn

The material can be turned easily but there is usually a large amount of dust.

Veneering Qualities
Suitable for slicing
No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting
Good gluing qualities
Easy to cut


Painting
Surface preparation required
Satisfactory results


Polishing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Satisfactory results
Good results


Staining
Finish is generally satisfactory
Fair staining properties


Varnishing
Satisfactory
Good results


Strength Properties
Shrinkage, Volumetric = large
Bending strength (MOR) = high
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Max. crushing strength = high
Hardness (side grain) = hard
Bending strength (MOR) = medium
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high
Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft
Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large
Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft.
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium
Max. crushing strength = medium
Shrinkage, Radial = large